6B906E7472AE229487258665005FD7A5 Hearing Summary

Ms. Michelle Collin, Office of the State Auditor (OSA), introduced the presentation. Ms. Collin discussed the total number of audit recommendations that are made to state departments and how OSA operates.

Ms. Jenny Page, OSA, introduced the performance audit for the Department of Human Services (DHS), specifically the update on the Colorado Adult Protection Services Programs (CAPS), which can be found online here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/lcs/osa_adult_protective_services_2020.pdf. 

The audit of the CAPS looked at how the program can be improved, and OSA found that the program can do better when it comes to protecting adults.

The audit found that the CAPS program does not report sufficient information on findings of mistreatment to employers looking to hire individuals. OSA recommended that they improve the reporting in an effort to improve employment outcomes. Key recommendations from the report included:

• improving the process for perpetrators to appeal findings of mistreatment;
• training counties on screening reports of mistreatment;
• implementing written guidance and training for documenting county guardianships; and
• streamlining the quality assurance review of county services.

DHS agreed with most of the recommendations.

Ms. Page responded to questions from the committee.

Committee questions continued.

Pooja Tulsian, OSA, presented to the committee the report on the health department audits recommendations that have yet to be implemented by DHS and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. The Annual Report: Status of Audit Recommendations Not Fully Implemented, as of June 30, 2020 was distributed to the committee and can be found online here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/lcs/osa_annual_report_status_of_audit_recommendations.pdf.

Ms. Tulsian recommended that the committee ask the presenting departments about the outstanding recommendations and pointed to the end of the report showing where more information about the audits can be found. She responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Page responded to questions.