Commitments and contingencies |
12 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2020 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and contingencies | Commitments and contingencies Performance bonds
Certain contracts require us to provide a surety bond as a guarantee of performance. At September 30, 2020, we had performance bond commitments totaling $36.5 million. These bonds are typically renewed annually and remain in place until the contractual obligations are satisfied. Although the triggering events vary from contract to contract, in general, we would only be liable for the amount of these guarantees in the event of default in our performance of our obligations under each contract, the probability of which we believe is remote.
Collective bargaining agreements
Approximately 6% of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements or similar arrangements, the majority of which expire within one year.
Litigation
We are subject to audits, investigations and reviews relating to compliance with the laws and regulations that govern our role as a contractor to agencies and departments of the United States Federal Government, state, local and foreign governments, and otherwise in connection with performing services in countries outside of the U.S. Adverse findings could lead to criminal, civil or administrative proceedings, and we could be faced with penalties, fines, suspension or debarment. Adverse findings could also have a material adverse effect on us because of our reliance on government contracts. We are subject to periodic audits by federal, state, local and foreign governments for taxes. We are also involved in various claims, arbitrations and lawsuits arising in the normal conduct of our business. These include but are not limited to bid protests, employment matters, contractual disputes and charges
before administrative agencies. Although we can give no assurance, based upon our evaluation and taking into account the advice of legal counsel, we do not believe that the outcome of any existing matter would likely have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) asserted two disallowances against a state Medicaid agency totaling approximately $31 million. From 2004 through 2009, we had a contract with the state agency in support of its school-based Medicaid claims. We entered into separate agreements with the school districts under which we assisted the districts with preparing and submitting claims to the state Medicaid agency, which, in turn, submitted claims for reimbursement to CMS. The state asserted that its agreement with us requires us to reimburse the state for the amounts owed to CMS. However, our agreements with the school districts require them to reimburse us for such amounts, and therefore we believe the school districts are responsible for any amounts that ultimately must be refunded to CMS. Although it is reasonably possible that a court could conclude we are responsible for the full balance of the disallowances, we believe our exposure in this matter is limited to our fees associated with this work and that the school districts will be responsible for the remainder. We reserved our estimated fees earned from this engagement relating to the disallowances. We exited the federal healthcare-claiming business in 2009 and no longer provide the services at issue in this matter. The state contested the first disallowance of approximately $12 million in the U.S. District Court. In February 2020, the District Court upheld that disallowance, and the state appealed the case to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The second disallowance of approximately $19 million is still pending at the U.S. Health and Human Services Departmental Appeals Board. No legal action was initiated against us with respect to either disallowance.
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