CARSON CITY, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) - A new audit found some state employees are being paid for time they didn’t work. Doctors at state prisons are supposed to work four 10 hour shifts every week, but inspectors at the Nevada Department of Administration Division of Internal Audits uncovered security badge access logs shows the medical staff wasn't fulfilling their obligation.
Instead of the 10 hour shifts - doctors were only working an average of five to five and a half hours a day. The audit estimates taxpayers footed the bill for almost $1.9 million in overpayments just in fiscal year 2012.
The Department of Corrections gave a written response to auditors - it says the prisons implemented a new system in September where the director of nursing services will help track doctor hours. It also goes on to say they're not allowed to dock the doctor's pay under state law. NRS 281.1275 reads: "reduction in salary of certain public officers and employees for part-day absence from work prohibited."
The DOC letter adds: "to request the doctors to account for their attendance and/or only pay doctors for actual hours worked could subject the state to severe litigation."
Another solution to fix the problem suggested in the audit was to privatize health care out here, but the department of corrections says that would cost more than the salaries involved in this issue.
