Nicholas Graeter

Environment / Energy Auditors will trace a sample of the Energy Efficiency Charge revenue collected from ratepayers to confirm these funds were used strictly for authorized EEU program expenses, and not diverted for non-efficiency operational costs. The audit will test for proper segregation of accounts and confirm compliance with state laws regarding the use of these dedicated ratepayer funds. Environment / Energy To determine whether the programs funded by the Vermont Energy Efficiency Utility (EEU), primarily implemented by Efficiency Vermont, are achieving the legislatively mandated goals of cost-effective energy savings for ratepayers and equitable participation across income levels and geographic areas in the state. Education Evaluate if the VSSC systematically gathers and analyzes data from required biannual drill reports to identify statewide trends, best practices, and systemic weaknesses in response protocols. Criminal Justice / Public Safety To determine whether the Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) has established and implemented an efficient and compliant process for authorizing, documenting, and managing employee overtime, and to evaluate whether management exercises adequate oversight to control costs and ensure appropriate staffing levels. Healthcare To determine whether the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) has implemented an effective system to ensure Medicaid acts as the "payer of last resort" by accurately identifying, billing, and recovering payments from primary insurers (e.g., Medicare or private insurance) for "dual-eligible" members. Healthcare Test the reliability of the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) in flagging claims for members with known primary insurance. Determine the "data lag" time between a member gaining private coverage and that information being actionable in the state’s billing system. Environment / Energy Internal controls related to rebate disbursement will be reviewed and tested to ensure payments were made only to eligible customers for equipment meeting efficiency specifications. The audit will assess the quality and timeliness of data submitted by the EEU to the PUC and the Legislature to ensure transparency and compliance. A final procedure will confirm proper licensing of participating contractors and the rigor of the EEU’s quality assurance review process. Funding and Ex. Healthcare Evaluate the efficiency of the "pay and chase" process, where the state pays a claim upfront and seeks reimbursement later. Determine if the state is meeting its own 3-year statutory deadline for recovery and assess the volume of "written-off" claims that were deemed uncollectible due to administrative delays. Healthcare Assess whether DVHA ensures that providers are submitting an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from primary insurers before Medicaid pays the balance. Education Test VSSC records to determine if all school sites are tracked for mandatory annual review/update and documented collaboration with first responders. Education To determine whether the Vermont School Safety Center (VSSC) has established and implemented a robust and effective process to ensure school supervisory unions/districts are in compliance with statutory requirements (e.g., Act 29 of 2023) to adopt, review, update, and adequately train on high-quality All-Hazards EOPs. Education To determine whether the Vermont State University (VTSU) merger has achieved the planned administrative and operational efficiencies and cost savings outlined in the VSC transformation plan, particularly the goal of a 25 million structural deficit reduction.