Problems with MCP still linger a decade after flagging them, says auditor general

Newfoundland and Labrador's auditor general says problems with the province's public medical care plan (MCP) linger on more than a decade after they were first highlighted by her office.

Auditor General Denise Hanrahan's most recent report — which looked at the period between April 2021 to March 31, 2024 — examined whether MCP and provincial dental health plan funds were disbursed appropriately.

"Unfortunately, our findings indicate areas of serious concern with the fulfilment of that mandate. What's worse, many of the findings today are the same as our 2014 audit," Hanrahan told reporters on Wednesday.

One of the problems raised to the Department of Health and Community Services included double payments with WorkplaceNL, as well as lingering IT system control problems.

In her report, Hanrahan found a three-year period where physicians and dentists owed the province $2.2 million, and found very little action had been taken to recover it and no recoveries made in 2023.

"I'm not sure that receivable [amount] is an accurate indication of what is owed to the province for the amount of transactions that go through that system," said Hanrahan.

The unpaid money could be due to error or fraud, she said, and the amount is likely higher than what the audit found.

Hanrahan said the frustrating point is that there are tools available that could improve the collection process that are going unused.

"With low productivity and insignificant recoveries, I question the effectiveness of the department's internal audit function as an oversight measure for the MCP program," she said.

Checking in

Hanrahan said she didn't know why the department failed to act on recommendations made a decade ago.

She has made six recommendations in her new report, which touched on addressing an aging technological system, coordinating with WorkplaceNL to prevent double billing, improving money collections and adopting management approvals for adult dental reimbursements.

She also wants the department to ensure its internal audit process is being properly carried out in accordance with legislation, regulations and policy.

As noted in the report, the provincial government has accepted all of Hanrahan's recommendations.

This time around, she signaled she was confident the government would act on those recommendations, saying her office got a good response from the Health Department and has spoken with the health minister.

"It will cost no money to implement those recommendations. These are about processes, existing staffing, existing systems," she said.

"And my intention in two years is to come back to see where they sit. And in three years I expect 100 per cent implementation."

In a statement Progressive Conservative health critic Barry Petten said it was "unacceptable" that the governing Liberals didn't act on solving the issues over the last 10 years and didn't collect the $2.2 million it was owed.

"We need an updated MCP system, with the proper controls and audits, so that health-care providers can truly focus on providing better health care for all of us," said Petten.

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