The office audited Connect for Health Colorado, a Denver-based organization also known as the state's health insurance marketplace that opened in 2013 and is considered the state's version of the federal Affordable Care Act.
According to the 29-page audit, the agency failed to follow federal guidelines for spending and documenting several grants administered by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Among the audit's findings: The agency improperly awarded bonuses to executives and employees; approved unallowed spending for certain social activities; required the use of personal credit cards for agency purchases; and failed to fully disclose possible conflicts of interest.
Furthermore, the audit shows the agency improperly approved spending for support and maintenance contracts and moved costs between grants to correct accounting errors.
Kevin Patterson, the agency's CEO, disagrees with the findings and is appealing them.
"Hopefully, they'll be able to say why they did things the way they did, and that the feds will agree with them on that," she said. "It's a new program so as guidelines come out, people interpret them the way they think they are, and the way they think it will best suit their state."
Herbertson said it's unclear how the situation will affect uninsured or under-insured people seeking health care coverage.
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