The state agency, in its response to the audit, said it did take action immediately when it came to light that the data had been tampered with. State officials said yesterday that the 2002 registry has been rectified and is available, and that the 2003 data will be finalized by September. Data for 2004 and 2005 are still under review for accuracy.
The audit of also revealed a lack of oversight of millions of dollars in funding for the troubled Prince George's Hospital Center, tobacco prevention and cessation programs and a program that provides medical assistance for low-income patients with breast and cervical cancer.
For instance, the auditors found that the Family Health Administration didn't follow up when a group that received nearly $1 million in state grants only implemented one of 14 promised secondhand smoke programs and educated only 51 out of 1,200 retailers about laws concerning tobacco access.
