Review of Refugee Medical Assistance Payments in Florida for the Period July 1, 2002, Through June 30, 2005

The objective of this audit was t o determine whether the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) made Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) payments only on behalf of beneficiaries whose eligibility periods had not expired. We found that during the 3-year period end June 30, 2005, DCF made payments totaling at least $226,028 on behalf of beneficiaries whose eligibility periods had expired. In addition, DCF's computerized eligibility system contained missing or inaccurate dates of entry or of asylum for some beneficiaries, allowing erroneous payments to occur. As a result, DCF made $58,510 in additional erroneous payments to 24 beneficiaries.

In addition to certain procedural recommendations, we recommended that DCF make a financial adjustment of $226,028 for the RMA payments made on behalf of ineligible beneficiaries and a financial adjustment of $58,510 for 24 beneficiaries whose dates of entry or of asylum were not documented in the case files. DCF generally concurred with our recommendations. However, in its written comments, DCF did not address the eligibility of the 24 beneficiaries whose dates of entry or of asylum were not documented in the case files. Therefore, we continued to recommend that DCF repay $58,510 in overpayments applicable to these 24 beneficiaries.