By JIM BUTLER

A required audit report brings to mind the old maxim – if government was in charge of the Sahara there’d soon be a shortage of sand.

State law requires the Legislative Auditor Office to issue an annual report relative to improper payments, failure to comply with requirements and the like in totals of $150,000 or more.

In the year ending last June 30 auditors found:

• For the seventh consecutive year La. Department of Hospitals, managed care organizations and Magellan Health Services did not have adequate controls to ensure behavioral health services in Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program were properly billed and improper encounters denied, $15.8 million estimated loss;
• For the sixth consecutive year LDH had inadequate controls over eligibility determinations for Medicaid and CHIP, $423,000; For the fifth consecutive year, LDH had inaccurate reporting for Medical Vendor payments, $30.1 million to $111.5 million, give or take;
• For the second consecutive year, exceeded Disproportionate Share Hospital limit, $2.1 million;
• First year, LDH and Office of Behavioral Health exceeded certain earmarking requirements, $341,000; OBH didn’t comply with certain federal reporting requirements, $23.5 million.