Fern5827
August 24th 04, 05:28 PM
Posted on Fri, Aug. 20, 2004
Report: DCF was over billed $1.6 million
Associated Press
MIAMI - The Department of Children & Families was over billed at least $1.6
million for services such as mental health care and drug treatment in
Miami-Dade County from December 2000 to May 2003, according to an inspector
general's report.
The department routinely forgave the overpayments, despite knowing that it had
been charged too much, according to a June report obtained by the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel. The report said the over billing instances "indicate the presence
of a systemic problem for which no one person or entity is held accountable."
"Why are we allowing $1.6 million to walk away?" said Tony A. McAlister, the
former acting manager of the district's contract compliance unit.
In some cases, the state feared bankrupting a contractor, disrupting services
to clients, or taking action against politically connected agencies and
minority-run companies, the report said. In others, the contracts prevented the
department from recovering the money, according to the report.
The department decided not to renew contracts with some providers who over
billed the state.
The overcharges include:
_ $805,750 billed by CHARLEE, which serves abused and neglected children. DCF
could not recover the money because the contract set a fixed price for the
work.
_ $410,710 billed by Lock Towns Community Mental Health Center, which was
turned over to the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County. Because Lock Towns
no longer existed, the money wasn't repaid.
_ $178,718 billed by the Community Crusade Against Drugs. DCF agreed to let the
group make payments over three years and $60,000 has been returned.
_ $72,375 billed by the Family Resource Center of South Florida for a parent
education class that was required to serve 1,350 families but helped only 268.
The contract didn't require that families attend all sessions for the center to
be paid, DCF said.
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Information from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel, http://www.sun-sentinel.com
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© 2004 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.tallahassee.com
DESCRIPTORS; FOSTER CARE, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, FLORIDA,
CORRUPTION, MISMANAGEMENT, CPS, CHILD PROTECTIVE
Report: DCF was over billed $1.6 million
Associated Press
MIAMI - The Department of Children & Families was over billed at least $1.6
million for services such as mental health care and drug treatment in
Miami-Dade County from December 2000 to May 2003, according to an inspector
general's report.
The department routinely forgave the overpayments, despite knowing that it had
been charged too much, according to a June report obtained by the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel. The report said the over billing instances "indicate the presence
of a systemic problem for which no one person or entity is held accountable."
"Why are we allowing $1.6 million to walk away?" said Tony A. McAlister, the
former acting manager of the district's contract compliance unit.
In some cases, the state feared bankrupting a contractor, disrupting services
to clients, or taking action against politically connected agencies and
minority-run companies, the report said. In others, the contracts prevented the
department from recovering the money, according to the report.
The department decided not to renew contracts with some providers who over
billed the state.
The overcharges include:
_ $805,750 billed by CHARLEE, which serves abused and neglected children. DCF
could not recover the money because the contract set a fixed price for the
work.
_ $410,710 billed by Lock Towns Community Mental Health Center, which was
turned over to the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County. Because Lock Towns
no longer existed, the money wasn't repaid.
_ $178,718 billed by the Community Crusade Against Drugs. DCF agreed to let the
group make payments over three years and $60,000 has been returned.
_ $72,375 billed by the Family Resource Center of South Florida for a parent
education class that was required to serve 1,350 families but helped only 268.
The contract didn't require that families attend all sessions for the center to
be paid, DCF said.
---
Information from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel, http://www.sun-sentinel.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
© 2004 AP Wire and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.tallahassee.com
DESCRIPTORS; FOSTER CARE, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, FLORIDA,
CORRUPTION, MISMANAGEMENT, CPS, CHILD PROTECTIVE