Riverside County Grand Jury • 2023-2024 • Agency Response
Response to: 2023-2024 Grand Jury Report: Office of Public Guardian - Taking Care of At-Risk Adults

Submittal to the Board of Supervisors County of Riverside, State of California Item: 3.8

Published: August 27, 2024 8 pages
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Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F6, F7

Findings 6 findings

F2
The Riverside County Auditor-Controller's office has not conducted an internal audit of OPG since 20I4. Response to Grand Jury Finding #2: Respondent disagrees wholly with finding. Department comments: The OPG is a program under the Riverside University Health System - Behavioral Health Department and is also included in the Auditor-Controller's planned internal audits within the scope of that audit. At the writing of this Grand Jury Report, the Auditor-Controller's Office was conducting an internal audit of OPG. See Auditor- Controller's Response lo 2023-2024 Grand Jury Report: Office of Public Guardian - Taking Care of At-Risk Adults dated August 5, 2024, atlached hereto. The audit is scheduled for the meeting of the Board of Supervisors on August 27,2024. Grand Jury Finding #3:
F3
The Riverside County Auditor-Controller's planned internal audits do not include OPG. Response to Grand Jury Finding #3: Respondent disagrees wholly with finding Department comments: The OPG is a program under the Riverside University Health System - Behavioral Health Department and is also included in the Auditor-Controllels planned internal audits within the scope of that audit. See Auditor-Controller's Response to 2023-2024 Grand Jury Report: Office of Public Guardian - Taking Care of At-Risk Adults dated August 5, 2024, allached hereto. As stated in the response to Finding #2, there is an audit by the Auditor-Controller scheduled for the meeting of Board of Supervisors on Augusl2T,2024. Grand Jury Finding #4:
F4
The Riverside County Aud itor-Controller's office is required to audit County departments, offices, boards, and institutions. Response to Grand Jury Finding /f4: Respondent agrees with finding. Department comments: ln accordance with Board Resolution 83-338, the Auditor-Controller's Office audits all county departments. See Auditor-Conkoller's Response to 2023-2024 Grand Jury Report: Office of Public Guardian - Taking Care of AlRisk Adults dated August 5, 2024, attached hereto. Grand Jury Finding #5:
F5
OPG is a sensitive program that is not being financially audited internally, nor audited externally, for performance bv the County on a regular basis. Response to Grand Jury Finding #5: Respondent disagrees wholly with finding Department comments RUHS-BH acknowledges the concern regarding the frequency of audits for the OPG program. ln addition to the audits conducted by the Auditor-Controller's Office, the OPG undergoes regular audits by multiple entities, ensuring thorough oversight and compliance with all relevant regulations. These audits include Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA) and Targeted Case Management (TCM) audits, which are conducted annually by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to review clinical documentation, program costs, and cost allocation related to case management services provided to Public Guardian clients. Additionally, the Social Security Administration (SSA) conducts biennial audits to review the accounts of individual clients for benefits eligibility and the management of client funds. The OPG is mandated by statute to file accountings with the Superior Court of California for all conservatorships. Accountings are filed annually for Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) conservatorships, and probate conservatorships are filed biennially. These accountings are reviewed by the court to certify the accuracy and current status of client accounts. Grand Jury Finding #8:
F8
The information provided on the Riverside County website regarding Office of Public Guardian has a brief description of conservatorship, which includes the OPG address, telephone/fax numbers, and office hours. Response to Grand Jury Finding #8: Respondent agrees with finding. Department comments: RUHS-BH acknowledges this finding and agrees that the information on the Riverside County website was limited. We recognize the necessity for more comprehensive and detailed information to better serve the community. To address this, we have added a hyperlink on the Riverside County website that directs users to the new, more comprehensive RUHS-BH Public Guardian page (https://www. ruhealth.orq/behavioral- health/public-quard ian-oroq ram ). Users can access detailed and updated information about OPG services, including descriptions of the conservatorship process, roles, responsibilities, and additional resources for at-risk adults. Grand Jury Finding #9:
F9
The OPG page is embedded within the Riverside University Health System website. Response to Grand Jury Finding #9: Respondent agrees with finding. Department comments: We agree with the finding that the OPG page is embedded within the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) website. This integration is part of a broader strategy to consolidate health services information, making it easier for residents to access multiple resources in one place. Embedding the OPG page within the RUHS-BH website ensures improved user experience and access to additional health services in one location. GRAND JURY RECOMMENDATIONS: Grand Jury Recommendation #'l: Rl: The Auditor-Controller Office should financially audit OPG on a regular basis according to County policies and procedures. Based on finding: F|,F2,F3,F4,F5,F6,F7 Financial Impact: Minimal - Moderate Time Frame: January 1, 2025 Response to Grand Jury #1:

Recommendations 2