State of Ohio's Efforts to Account for and Monitor Sub-Recipients' Use of Public Health Preparedness and Response to Bioterrorism Program Funds

September 19, 2003

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Our objectives were to determine whether the Ohio Department of Health (State agency): (i) properly recorded, summarized and reported bioterrorism preparedness transactions by specific focus area designated in the cooperative agreements and (ii) whether the State agency had controls and procedures to monitor sub-recipient expenditures of CDC funds.  Based on our validation of a questionnaire completed by the State agency and our site visit, we found that the State agency generally accounted for program funds by specific focus area.  In response to our inquiry as to whether the State agency reduced funding to existing public health programs, State officials replied that program funding had not been used to supplant existing State or local programs. We recommended that the State agency implement the site visit component and address problem areas, as they are identified.  The State agency concurred with our findings and recommendation.