OIG and GSA Exclusion Lists: How to Check SAM.gov and the LEIE for Excluded Parties

To avoid costly violations and protect program integrity, you must screen people and organizations against both the OIG’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) and the GSA-managed exclusions in SAM.gov. This guide explains what each list covers, how to search them efficiently, and how to handle results as part of sound Exclusion Verification Procedures and Federal Contractor Compliance.

Overview of OIG LEIE

The LEIE is the List of Excluded Individuals and Entities maintained by HHS OIG. It identifies people and organizations subject to Federal Health Care Program Exclusions—meaning they are barred from participating in or being paid by programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Causes include program-related convictions, patient abuse or neglect, license revocation, and other integrity violations.

If you employ, contract with, or receive services from an excluded party for items or services billed to federal health care programs, you risk claim denials, civil monetary penalties, and repayment obligations. Because the LEIE is health care–specific, it complements the GSA/SAM.gov exclusions that apply governmentwide.

Accessing the OIG Exclusions Database

The OIG Exclusions Database (LEIE) is publicly searchable and available for download. You can perform quick name or NPI lookups online, or use the downloadable files for batch screening and monthly rescreening.

How to search the LEIE

• Gather identifiers: full legal name, common aliases/maiden names, NPI (for clinicians), and state license information.
• Run exact and partial-name searches to catch spelling variations and hyphenations.
• Review matched records carefully, comparing NPI, specialty, state, and—where available—birth year or location.
• Use the monthly supplement file to identify new additions since your last screening.

Exclusion Verification Procedures

• Document every search: who performed it, when, sources checked, search terms used, and outcomes.
• Retain evidence (e.g., screenshots or exported results) consistent with your records policy and contract or payer requirements.
• Rescreen workforce, medical staff, and critical vendors on a recurring cadence—monthly is a common healthcare standard.

Understanding SAM.gov Exclusions

SAM.gov, operated by the General Services Administration as the System for Award Management, houses governmentwide exclusion records. These include suspensions, proposed debarments, and debarment actions that bar parties from receiving federal awards, subawards, or certain benefits. Records can pertain to individuals or entities and may specify whether the action applies to procurement, nonprocurement, or both.

Each SAM exclusion record typically shows the excluding agency, cause and authority, active/inactive status, and any termination or expiration details. Because GSA exclusions are broader than healthcare, you should screen SAM.gov for all federal grants, contracts, and assistance relationships—even when no claims touch federal health care programs.

Procedures for Searching SAM.gov

• Access the public search and select the Exclusions filter to limit results to ineligible parties.
• Search by entity or individual name, Unique Entity ID (UEI), or CAGE code; use additional filters such as country, state, and status (Active/Inactive) to refine.
• Open each potential match to review details: excluding agency, action type (suspension, proposed debarment, debarment), scope (procurement/nonprocurement), cause, and applicable dates.
• Export, print, or otherwise capture results to evidence your due diligence, noting the date and exact terms used.
• Set a recurring schedule to rescreen vendors, subcontractors, key principals, and employees tied to federal funding or awards.

Compliance Importance of Exclusion Checks

Routine screening underpins Federal Contractor Compliance and protects you from ineligible awards, payment denials, and false claims exposure. In contracts and assistance agreements, you are expected to avoid doing business with suspended, debarred, or otherwise excluded parties—and to flow those requirements down to applicable subrecipients and subcontractors.

Embedding Exclusion Verification Procedures into onboarding, credentialing, vendor management, and periodic monitoring reduces risk, speeds audits, and demonstrates good-faith compliance if an issue arises.

Tips for Effective Exclusion Searches

• Search both systems: pair the OIG LEIE with SAM.gov to cover healthcare-specific and governmentwide ineligibilities.
• Use name variants: include aliases, initials, hyphenations, transliterations, and “doing business as” names.
• Leverage unique identifiers: NPIs for clinicians, UEI and CAGE for entities, plus license numbers and jurisdictions.
• Filter for “Active” exclusions first, then review inactive records for historical insights and remediation context.
• Maintain auditable logs: timestamp results, capture screenshots or exports, and track match/no-match determinations.
• Automate rescreening: schedule monthly checks for high-risk populations and at key lifecycle events (e.g., contract award, renewal, or assignment to federal projects).
• Train staff: ensure teams understand the difference between Federal Health Care Program Exclusions and GSA debarments, and how to escalate potential matches.

Handling Exclusion Results

If you find a potential match

• Pause engagement or payment until identity is confirmed using NPIs, UEI/CAGE, addresses, licensure, and other reliable data points.
• Escalate to compliance or legal for a documented verification and determination.

If you confirm an exclusion

• For healthcare billing: remove the individual/entity from any federal health care program–related work and prevent claims submission tied to their services.
• For federal awards: avoid new obligations with excluded parties; consult your contracting officer or grant official immediately.
• Assess disclosures, repayments, or corrective actions as appropriate; update rosters and systems to block future assignments.

Understanding debarment actions and reinstatement

• Suspensions and proposed debarments can impose immediate ineligibility for federal procurement; debarments formalize longer-term ineligibility.
• Parties may seek reinstatement or action termination, but they remain ineligible until officially lifted in the relevant system.

Conclusion

Screening both the OIG LEIE and SAM.gov provides complete coverage across healthcare and governmentwide exclusions. By standardizing searches, documenting outcomes, and rescreening on a set cadence, you reduce enforcement risk and uphold program integrity across all awards, claims, and contracts.

FAQs.

How often is the LEIE database updated?

The LEIE is typically updated monthly. Incorporate the monthly supplement into your rescreening process so new exclusions are captured promptly.

What information is required to search the SAM.gov database?

You can search SAM.gov by entity or individual name, Unique Entity ID (UEI), or CAGE code. Filters such as country, state, status (Active/Inactive), and exclusion type help narrow results and validate potential matches.

Can exclusion lists from OIG and GSA differ?

Yes. The OIG LEIE covers Federal Health Care Program Exclusions, while SAM.gov lists governmentwide exclusions such as suspensions and debarment actions. A party can appear in one system, the other, or both depending on the underlying authority and conduct.

What are the consequences of contracting with an excluded party?

Consequences can include ineligibility for awards, payment denials, civil monetary penalties, possible False Claims Act exposure, required repayments, contract termination, reputational harm, and heightened oversight. Prompt remediation and thorough documentation are essential if an issue is discovered.