(The following was excerpted from an article in the Single Audit Information Service). Florida health care agency officials planned to update written internal guidance to ensure agency analysts accurately calculate Medicaid reimbursement rates for the state’s health care facilities, addressing concerns raised in a Florida Office of Auditor General’s audit.

One growing concern among officials at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service is trafficking in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamp program. Trafficking is the exchange of benefits for cash or other ineligible items.

We’re expecting a huge crowd here this weekend as throngs descend upon the nation’s capital in honor of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial. One can only wonder where our nation would be in terms of human equality if not for the great leadership of Dr. King. Who knew on the early morning of Aug. 28, 1963, that this speech would be repeated over and over as one of the greatest speeches in the annals of history? Although it occurred before I was born, I can only imagine the excitement that came over the crowd as he concluded with “Free at last, free at last, Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

(The following was excerpted from an article in the Federal Grants Management Handbook.) The Department of Health and Human Services Departmental Appeals Board recently refused to hear a New Jersey agency’s appeal concerning the disallowance of Child Support Enforcement Program reimbursement claims, remanding the case to the Administration for Children and Families to obtain more reliable information to base its disallowance.

With all the hoo-hah over Edward Snowden and the National Security Administration, concerns about privacy are moving up on people’s priority lists. Not that this is directly related, but the Office of Management and Budget last week issued a memorandum to federal agencies on protecting privacy while federal agencies reduce improper payments through the Do Not Pay Initiative.

It isn’t much, but at least we have some new information on the latest on the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed guidance to reform grants management and single audit oversight. I would doubt anyone has ever called OMB’s policymaking process speedy, so I find it somewhat ironic that OMB is using an automotive term to explain its current actions towards finalizing the proposal.

(The following was excerpted from an article in the Federal Grants Management Handbook.) All parties involved in a grant project should consider potential risks when developing and managing the grant and should proactively address those risks early in the grant process, Karen Norris, managing editor of grants publications at Thompson Information Services, told attendees at a recent National Grants Management Association training meeting.

Around this time of year, I tend to become a bit anxious. I could say it has something with back-to-school shopping but that's a whole other blog post topic. This time I'm referring to something a little more out of my control — the second anniversary of the day D.C. decided to shake, rattle and roll, and no music was involved!

(The following was excerpted from an article in the Single Audit Information Service.) Recipients of federal awards should be aware of certain organizational weaknesses that could increase their risks and, therefore, should develop internal control processes to safeguard the integrity of their programs, Tiffany Winters, Esq., partner with Brustein & Manasevit recently told attendees at the National Grants Management’s annual training conference.

The call has gone out for federal agency heads to huddle up with the Office of Management and Budget to develop a plan for agencies to implement the requirements of Executive Order 13559, “Fundamental Principles and Policymaking Criteria for Partnerships With Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations.” In November 2010, President Obama signed E.O. 13559, which amended E.O. 13279, to clarify the fundamental principles that guide agencies work with faith-based and neighborhood organizations.