A LEIE check is the process of screening individuals or entities against the OIG List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE). The purpose of an LEIE check is to confirm that a provider, employee, contractor, or vendor is not excluded from participating in federally funded healthcare programs such as Medicare or Medicaid.
Healthcare organizations are required to perform LEIE checks because employing or paying an excluded individual is a direct compliance violation. Even indirect involvement in federally funded healthcare activity can trigger penalties, repayment demands, and enforcement action.
A LEIE check is not a one-time task. Exclusion status can change at any point, which means organizations must screen on an ongoing basis to remain compliant.
What a LEIE check includes
A LEIE check compares identifying information, such as names and other available data, against records published by the Office of Inspector General.
These records are maintained in the official LEIE database, which contains individuals and entities that have been excluded due to fraud, abuse, licensing violations, or other misconduct tied to federal healthcare programs.
Because names are often incomplete, inconsistent, or shared by multiple people, LEIE checks require careful matching. A flagged result does not automatically mean someone is excluded. It means the record must be reviewed and validated before action is taken.
A proper LEIE check includes documentation. Organizations must be able to show when the check occurred, what data was screened, and how potential matches were resolved. This documentation is critical during audits and investigations.
Failing to perform LEIE checks is one of the most common healthcare compliance violations.
How often should LEIE checks be performed?
Healthcare organizations are expected to perform LEIE checks at least monthly. This is the widely accepted compliance standard and aligns with OIG guidance and enforcement expectations.
LEIE checks should also be performed during onboarding, credentialing, and contract renewals. Relying only on hiring-time checks creates risk because individuals can become excluded after they are already engaged.
Monthly LEIE checks help organizations detect changes quickly and take corrective action before compliance issues escalate.
Why LEIE checks matter
Failing to perform LEIE checks is one of the most common healthcare compliance violations. Even if an excluded individual was unknowingly employed, the organization may still be held financially responsible.
LEIE checks protect healthcare organizations from preventable risk. They also protect patients and federal healthcare programs by ensuring excluded individuals are not involved in care delivery or billing.
As provider populations grow, manual LEIE checks become difficult to manage consistently. This is why many organizations rely on automated screening systems to maintain compliance at scale.
How Streamline Verify supports LEIE checks
Streamline Verify supports LEIE checks by continuously screening providers, employees, and entities against the OIG exclusion list. The platform keeps screening results current as the LEIE is updated.
When exclusion status changes, Streamline Verify supports immediate review and documentation. This reduces lag between external updates and internal compliance action.
By supporting continuous screening, clear records, and audit-ready reporting, Streamline Verify helps healthcare organizations perform LEIE checks without adding manual burden.
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