KINGSTON – Procedures have been improved since a 2014 Ulster County Comptroller’s audit of county employee health benefits, Comptroller Elliott Auerbach said Monday.
The first audit expressed concerns about eligibility and dependent coverage for over 4,000 participants.
The original audit concluded that the personnel department charged with maintaining the necessary information “[did] not have standard procedures in place for documenting enrollee eligibility.” The audit also highlighted employee unresponsiveness, fabricated records and incomplete employee files.
Auerbach said subsequent testing and examination determined his recommendations for stronger internal controls were implemented.
“I commend the strengthening of procedures, the cooperation from the benefits’ administrator and personnel director and the overall efficiency of the program,” the comptroller said. “As with every audit, our goal is to protect the taxpayers’ interest and confirm that programs are devoid of waste, fraud and abuse.”
