Free tool · Official CMS and OIG data
OIG exclusion check for staff and vendors
Check employees, contractors and businesses against OIG’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities: everyone barred from Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health programs. Works for staff without an NPI.
Check the OIG exclusion list
For staff without an NPI, like front desk, billing and aides. Checks OIG’s list of excluded individuals and businesses.
What most practices don’t know
per item or service is the maximum civil penalty for billing federal health programs through someone you knew or should have known was excluded, plus up to 3 times the amount claimed.
Source: 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a (civil monetary penalties)of the 84,094 people and businesses on OIG’s exclusion list include an NPI. Searching by NPI alone misses about 94% of them, so name checks matter.
Source: HHS OIG, LEIE downloadable database. Our count from OIG’s September 2026 file.counts, not just clinicians. OIG’s rule covers anyone you hire whose work is paid for directly or indirectly by Medicare or Medicaid, including billing and administrative staff.
Source: HHS OIG, Background Information and Exclusion Authoritiesis how often OIG updates the list, by the 10th of each month. A check from last quarter can already be out of date.
Source: HHS OIG, Exclusions database helpWhat this check can and can’t tell you
- A name match is not proof. OIG says to confirm a possible match with the person’s Social Security number (or a business’s EIN) on its own search site; the downloadable list doesn’t include them.
- This check covers the federal OIG list. It doesn’t yet cover SAM.gov exclusions or the separate lists kept by state Medicaid programs, which many payers also expect you to check.
- People can appear under a former name. Check maiden names and other names a new hire has used.
- The NPI Registry is self-reported by providers. License numbers shown there are not verified by CMS; confirm licenses with the state board.
- An NPI can show as active even if a license has lapsed. NPI status and license status are separate.
How to screen staff the right way
- Before hiring or contracting: check every candidate by name, every former name, and NPI if they have one.
- Confirm any possible match on OIG’s own search with the person’s Social Security number before acting.
- Re-check everyone monthly, after OIG’s update around the 10th. People can be excluded after you hire them.
- Keep a dated record of every check. If an auditor asks, the record shows you did your part.
- Include vendors and contractors whose services are billed to Medicare or Medicaid, such as billing companies and staffing agencies.
Questions
What is the OIG exclusion list?
The List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) is kept by the HHS Office of Inspector General. Federal health programs won’t pay for any item or service furnished, ordered or prescribed by someone on it.
Who has to be checked?
Anyone whose work is paid for directly or indirectly by Medicare, Medicaid or other federal health programs: clinicians, nurses and aides, but also billing, front desk, management staff, contractors and vendors.
What is the penalty for employing an excluded person?
Under 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a, up to $20,000 for each item or service, plus an assessment of up to 3 times the amount claimed, and possible exclusion of the employer itself.
How often is the list updated?
OIG updates the LEIE by the 10th of every month. This tool refreshes from OIG’s monthly file and shows which month’s list was used.
Why check by name and not just NPI?
Only about 6% of entries on the list include an NPI. Most excluded people, especially non-clinical staff, can only be found by name.
Is a name match proof that someone is excluded?
No. Many people share names. OIG says to confirm a possible match by entering the person’s Social Security number on OIG’s own search before taking any action.
Does this check SAM.gov or state Medicaid lists?
Not yet. Those lists are separate, and many payers expect them to be checked too. They are planned for Practice Pro.
Can someone be removed from the list?
Yes. Excluded people can apply for reinstatement after their exclusion period; reinstated people are removed from the current list. Some exclusions carry waivers for specific states or programs.
What are mandatory and permissive exclusions?
Mandatory exclusions follow certain convictions, such as Medicare fraud or patient abuse, and last at least 5 years. Permissive exclusions are at OIG’s discretion, for reasons such as license revocation or kickbacks.
Do I need to keep records of my checks?
It’s strongly advisable. A dated record of each check shows auditors and payers that you screened in good faith. Use “Print or save as PDF” after each check.
Sources
- HHS OIG, Background Information and Exclusion Authorities
- HHS OIG, Exclusions database help
- HHS OIG, LEIE downloadable database
- 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7a (civil monetary penalties)
- CMS NPPES NPI Registry
- OIG Special Advisory Bulletin on the Effect of Exclusion (2013), summary
This tool gives information from public government data, not legal or compliance advice. Confirm any possible exclusion match on OIG’s website before taking action.