In the latest fiscal oversight, Ohio's financial management of federal funds has been called into question, revealing several irregularities in a new audit report. According to the State of Ohio Single Audit for the fiscal year 2024 conducted by Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber's office, the state oversaw a whopping $44 billion in spending from 362 federally funded programs.
Nineteen findings have been reported in the audit, uncovering questionable costs of $924,725 among seven state agencies from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Although these numbers mirror the previous fiscal year's results, they suggest a pattern of persistent financial oversights. Notably, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services contributed the lion's share with $30.7 billion, with a substantial $26.6 billion directed towards Ohio's Medicaid programs, which provide essential medical care and services to a wide array of residents, including those of lower income, older adults, and children.
The audit illuminated various missteps, including $576,505 in Low-Income Home Energy Assistance funds that were not utilized in the required timeframe, mistakes in Medicaid, where payments totaling $252,991 were made for individuals no longer alive, and an additional mix of improper CHIP and Medicaid payments to ineligible parties, totaling $95,229 in undeserved funds.
Furthermore, the audit identified three significant findings for recovery, notably, more than $1.1 million against 24 employers in the Ohio Department of Development’s TechCred program, which encountered non-compliance with the rules, including instances where employers sought reimbursement for training individuals who did not meet the employee criteria set by the program, and individual cases involving a former Ohio Department of Public Safety employee and a former Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services employee who each diverted time owed to their public duty towards personal gain.
These findings are significant as they underscore the need for improved oversight and accountability in managing federal funds. The findings from the annual audit signal a call to action for Ohio state departments to reevaluate their internal controls and ensure taxpayer dollars are responsibly and effectively spent. The impact of these oversights can have real implications on the lives of Ohioans relying on these programs for health, sustenance, and security.
