Audit of Costs and Reporting Funds Under the Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program - Ohio Department

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY BACKGROUND States and major local health departments receive Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funding to upgrade the preparedness of the Nation’s hospitals and collaborating entities to respond to bioterrorism under the Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program. HRSA initiated cooperative agreements with awardees for the period April 1, 2002, through March 31, 2003 as directed by the Cooperative Agreement Guidance issued February 15, 2002. This first budget period was extended through August 31, 2003. The second budget period initially covered the period September 1, 2003, through August 31, 2004, but was extended through August 31, 2005. Hospital preparedness program funding awarded to the Ohio Department of Health (State agency) has increased from $1.4 million for period 1 to $21.5 million for period 2. As of August 30, 2004, cumulative funds awarded totaled $22.9 million. OBJECTIVES The objectives of our audit were to determine whether the State agency: • recorded and reported HRSA hospital preparedness program funds awarded, expended, obligated, and unobligated in accordance with the cooperative agreement; • ensured that the hospital preparedness program funds were used for necessary, reasonable, allocable, and allowable costs in accordance with the terms of the cooperative agreement; and • did not supplant current State or local funding with hospital preparedness program funds. ...