Columbus – Franklin County-based ambulette service Friendly Transportation Services, Inc. owes $37,000 to Ohio Medicaid because of inadequate documentation and unauthorized drivers, according to an audit released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost.

“To get paid, you have to do the whole job,” Auditor Yost said.  “That means obtaining doctors’ orders, doing the proper paperwork and hiring qualified employees.  To do anything less is unacceptable.”

The audit tested ambulette service records during the period of October 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010.  Ohio law requires certificates of medical necessity (CMNs) in order for ambulette services to be covered by Medicaid.  A review of CMNs identified 72 transports that did not have completed CMNs to authorize the transport and 42 transports where the CMNs were invalid.

The audit also identified several instances where trip documentation was incomplete or the destination was not to a Medicaid covered service.  Auditors also could not identify that licensed vehicles were used for the transports reviewed.  The review of four driver personnel files chosen randomly found that one driver had no proof of passenger assistance training and his background check and drug/alcohol tests were not completed within the required 60-day period.  Another driver had two separate convictions for a violent offense, which makes him ineligible to provide services.  This individual provided 70 services.

A finding of $35,864.84 was found to be owed to Ohio Medicaid by Friendly Transportation Services, Inc.  With interest in the amount of $1,855.15, the total amount owed to Ohio Medicaid is $37,719.99.

A full copy of this audit may be accessed online.

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,800 state and local government agencies.  Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.

Contact:
Carrie Bartunek
Press Secretary
614-644-111