How Many People Are on the OIG Exclusion List (LEIE)?

OIG Exclusion List Overview

The List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) is the federal registry the Office of Inspector General maintains to identify people and organizations barred from participating in Federal Health Care Programs. If someone appears on the LEIE, Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for items or services they furnish, order, or prescribe.

The database covers both individuals (such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, owners) and entities (such as clinics, pharmacies, DME suppliers). Each record typically includes names or business names, specialty, state, exclusion type under the Exclusion Criteria, and the effective date. Reinstatement removes a party from the active list.

Monthly Update Process

The LEIE is updated monthly. Each cycle captures new exclusions, any corrections, and reinstatements that return parties to good standing. Because of this cadence, the total number of excluded individuals and entities is a moving target rather than a fixed figure.

OIG provides a full, current snapshot in a downloadable database and publishes monthly supplement files that highlight adds and reinstatements since the prior update. You should time your Provider Enrollment Screening and Compliance Monitoring to this monthly rhythm and document the version you used.

Number of Excluded Individuals and Entities

There is no single, permanent answer to “How many people are on the OIG exclusion list?” The count changes every month as new exclusions are imposed and others are reinstated. The overall total is substantial and includes both individuals and entities across all states and U.S. territories.

How to find today’s total quickly

• Download the latest full LEIE database (the monthly snapshot of current, active exclusions).
• Open the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets and count the data rows (excluding the header). That row count is the current total of active exclusions.
• To separate individuals from entities, filter by whether a Business Name field is populated (entities) versus Last/First Name fields (individuals). Create a simple pivot to display both subtotals.
• For month-over-month changes, compare row counts between successive monthly snapshots, or consult the monthly “additions” and “reinstatements” supplement files to compute the net change.

What to keep in mind when counting

• Each row represents an active exclusion record. A single person or organization can appear more than once in rare cases (for example, distinct exclusion actions or name variations).
• The full download contains currently excluded parties; monthly supplements list recent additions and reinstatements, which are not duplicates of the main file.
• Use unique identifiers (such as NPI when available) to de-duplicate for analytics, and capture the “as of” month in your reports.

Accessing the LEIE Database

Two primary options

• Online search: Look up by individual name or NPI to check one person at a time. Use additional identifiers (middle name, date of birth, state, specialty) to resolve possible matches.
• Downloadable database: Retrieve the monthly CSV snapshot for bulk screening and reporting. This is the best source for obtaining the current total count and running automated comparisons.

Practical tips for accurate lookups

• Search using exact legal names and common variants (hyphenations, former names, initials).
• When you have an NPI, use it; it sharply reduces false positives.
• Save evidence of each search (date, dataset month, criteria, and outcome) to support audits and program integrity reviews.

Impact of Exclusions on Providers

Exclusion triggers significant Medicare and Medicaid sanctions. Items or services furnished, ordered, prescribed, or referred by an excluded party are not payable by Federal Health Care Programs, and related claims may be denied or later recouped.

Organizations that employ or contract with excluded individuals or entities—directly or indirectly—risk civil monetary penalties, assessments, and required refunds. Beyond financial exposure, exclusion can disrupt care delivery, damage reputation, and jeopardize network participation and payer relationships.

Compliance Requirements for Covered Entities

Build screening into your operations

• Screen all workforce members, medical staff, owners, contractors, and key vendors against the LEIE at hire/engagement and monthly thereafter.
• Embed Provider Enrollment Screening into credentialing, reappointment, and revalidation workflows to prevent onboarding an excluded party.
• Record each screening event (date, dataset month, data sources, results, and final determination) to demonstrate Compliance Monitoring.

Reduce false positives and react quickly

• Use multiple identifiers (full name, middle name, NPI, state, specialty) to confirm or clear potential matches.
• If you identify a confirmed match, immediately remove the individual or entity from federally reimbursable functions, assess claim impact, and follow your disclosure and refund protocols.
• Provide recurring training so managers and credentialing staff understand exclusion risks and resolution steps.

Common Reasons for Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria include mandatory and permissive grounds. Mandatory exclusions generally follow serious program-related convictions, while permissive exclusions address a broader set of misconduct and administrative actions that implicate program integrity.

• Program-related fraud or kickback offenses tied to Federal Health Care Programs.
• Patient abuse or neglect in connection with the delivery of health care.
• Felony convictions related to health care fraud or controlled substances.
• License revocation, suspension, or surrender as a result of professional misconduct.
• Claims falsification, quality-of-care violations, and other conduct undermining program integrity.

Bottom line: the total number of people on the OIG Exclusion List (LEIE) changes every month. Use the monthly downloadable database to obtain today’s count, align your screening with the monthly update cycle, and document results as part of a robust compliance program.

FAQs

How often is the OIG exclusion list updated?

The LEIE is updated monthly. Each update reflects new exclusions and reinstatements, so you should screen and refresh your internal records at least once every month.

Where can I find the current number of excluded individuals?

Download the latest full LEIE database and count the data rows to get the total of currently excluded individuals and entities. For trends or deltas, compare successive monthly snapshots or review the monthly additions and reinstatements files.

What are the consequences of being on the LEIE?

Excluded parties cannot receive payment from Federal Health Care Programs for items or services they furnish, order, or prescribe. Claims are subject to denial or recoupment, and organizations that employ or contract with excluded parties face civil monetary penalties and other Medicare and Medicaid sanctions.

How can providers ensure compliance with OIG exclusions?

Implement monthly LEIE screening for all relevant individuals and entities, integrate checks into Provider Enrollment Screening and credentialing, verify potential matches with multiple identifiers, document every screening event, train staff, and conduct periodic audits as part of ongoing Compliance Monitoring.