Analytical review procedures involve the analysis of financial and operational data to identify trends, anomalies, or patterns that may indicate areas of concern or opportunities for improvement. In this scenario, where an organization is facing rising healthcare insurance costs, the most appropriate analytical review procedure is to compare the rate of increase in healthcare costs with an external benchmark, such as the government index of healthcare costs.
Detailed Explanation:
IIA Standard 2320 - Analysis and Evaluation:
The standard emphasizes the need for internal auditors to apply appropriate analytical procedures to understand the nature of data and assess the reasonableness of the information under review. Comparing the organization's cost increases to a government index provides an objective benchmark.
Benchmarking:
By comparing the organization's rate of increase in healthcare costs with the government index, the internal auditor can determine whether the organization's costs are in line with industry trends. This comparison helps assess whether the 10 percent annual increase is reasonable or if it deviates significantly from the norm.
Relevance of External Data:
The government index reflects the broader economic environment and industry standards, making it a relevant comparison point. If the organization's increase significantly exceeds the index, it may indicate inefficiencies or issues that require further investigation.
Why Not Other Options?
Option A (Comparison with similar organizations): While useful, this approach may not provide the same level of objectivity as a government index, as organizations may have different healthcare plans, demographics, and other factors affecting costs.
Option C (Obtaining a bid): This relates more to evaluating the cost-effectiveness of services, not the reasonableness of past cost increases.
Option D (Reviewing claims for overpayments): This is a detailed transactional audit, which is important but does not provide a broad analytical view of cost trends.
Conclusion: Option B is correct as it directly compares the organization's cost increase to an objective external benchmark, which aligns with IIA's emphasis on analytical review procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of financial data.