Dayhoff Westminster Soundtrack: Audit: Maryland Mental Health Administration failed to check patients’ eligibility and patient information is not secure

Monday, December 15, 2014

Audit: Maryland Mental Health Administration failed to check patients’ eligibility and patient information is not secure

Audit: Mental Health Administration failed to check patients’ eligibility and patient information is not secure

Published on September 29th, 2014 | by Charlie Hayward CharlieHayward@MarylandReporter.com

http://marylandreporter.com/2014/09/29/audit-mental-health-administration-failed-to-check-patients-eligibility-and-patient-information-is-not-secure/

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2014/12/audit-maryland-mental-health.html

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The Mental Health Administration delivers comprehensive care, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals with mental illnesses, either through a network of hospital facilities operated by MHA or through community service agencies. MHA spent $788 million during fiscal year 2013.

MHA receives funding from multiple federal and state sources and each funding source can have different eligibility rules. Because of this, MHA must keep detailed records about patients so the funding source is correctly matched to each patient service.

Eligibility documentation missing; important statistics not kept

MHA utilizes an Administrative Services Organization (ASO) to review its mental health services. During fiscal 2013, the ASO paid approximately $16.4 million of State funds for “uninsured” patient care, without keeping documentation showing patients were eligible for the mental health services they received.

The documentation is important because it is the basis for determining who ultimately pays for care: the state, federal government or the individual. This finding was repeated from the previous audit.

http://marylandreporter.com/2014/09/29/audit-mental-health-administration-failed-to-check-patients-eligibility-and-patient-information-is-not-secure/

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