Audit finds possible mistakes in DSS renewal requests

A state audit found possible mistakes in nearly one-quarter of Mecklenburg County Medicaid renewal requests.

The Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services handled nearly $1 billion in taxpayer money during the last year, but officials said it’s impossible to know how much money got into the hands of people who didn't deserve it.

The office admitted that shortcuts might have been taken on Medicaid renewal requests, but it was only because workers were dealing with major state changes at the time.

A total of 8.8 percent of Medicaid applications in Mecklenburg County might have had accuracy errors. For re-applications, the error rate was more than 23 percent, according to the audit.

The errors and delays might have resulted in some Medicaid applicants receiving benefits for which they weren't eligible, while others were likely denied benefits that they should have gotten, auditors said.

Rodney Adams, deputy director of Mecklenburg County DSS, said the audit last year came as the agency's staff was still adjusting to a new state benefits program called NC Fast and trying to catch up with a lag in processing food stamp benefits.

In an official response to the audit, DSS acknowledged that the changes might have led to staff taking shortcuts in processing Medicaid applications.

“Hopefully, they do help the people that come who really need the help,” Medicaid recipient Shameeka Johnson said. “There are some people who come who don't really need it.”

Adams said the majority of the problems have been fixed but the department is continuing to work through changes.

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