LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Contract Oversight Called Lax at Health Department
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services failed to adequately monitor $320 million in service contracts, leading to overpayments and questions about the quality of work the county is receiving, according to an audit made public this week.
The county contracts for a wide range of services, including medical, laundry, housekeeping, security and computer systems.
Auditors found that county employees who monitor contracts mostly work at home and took “excessive time to complete assignments.” Other monitors were given inadequate training and time to check on contractors. Auditors recommended that the county strengthen its monitoring activities and improve employee training and staff productivity.
In a letter to the auditors, health Director Robert C. Gates said he concurred with the findings.
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