Petrelis Files

HHS AUDIT SAYS CDC-FUNDED BOSTON GROUP LOBBIED

The Inspector General Office of the federal Department of Health and Human Services recently published its findings after an audited was conducted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded Multicultural AIDS Center of Boston, Massachusetts.

The web page for the HHS IG's office shows the following the title for the report, which was issued on January 27, 2003.

"Audit of HIV/AIDS Activities at the Multicultural AIDS Coalition for the Period July 1, 2000 Through September 30, 2002," (A-01-02-01503)

Here is the Executive Summary of the HHS IG's audit:

"The Multicultural AIDS Coalition (MAC) has generally met its overall performance expectations but needs to improve its financial management system to ensure grant funds are used for the intended purpose.

"We specifically found that: 

"(1) MAC allocated personnel costs to federal grants based on budget estimates because it had not developed a system for allocating salaries and wages to federal grants and contracts based on personnel activity reports for each employee; and

"(2) two MAC employees, whose salaries were paid with CDC funds, appeared to be involved in lobbying activities—an unallowable charge under federal regulations. 

"We recommended that MAC continue its efforts to:  implement its revised system for allocating personnel costs and periodically monitor the personnel costs charged to federal awards; and develop written policies and procedures addressing the types of costs and activities that are unallowable as charges to federal grants."

I searched the web pages for the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald and the city's weekly gay newpaper, Bay Windows, and didn't locate any stories about the HHS IG's audit.

It is my hope that all these papers will examine the full audit and determine if the findings are of interest to their readers, as I believe they should be.

I applaud the HHS IG for conducting this audit of the Multicultural AIDS Coalition and for publishing the findings on the web. Let's hope the HHS IG'S office continue to audit HIV prevention groups funded by the CDC to make sure federal funds are properly spent and accounted for.

The entire report can be located at: http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region1/10201503.pdf .

Regards,
Michael Petrelis
Ph: 415-621-6267