LEIE Quick Tips & Instructions

Getting Started

Who should check for excluded individuals and entities?

• Anyone who hires an individual or entity on the LEIE may be subject to civil monetary penalties (CMP). To avoid CMP liability, health care entities should routinely check the list to ensure that new hires and current employees are not on it.
• All state Medicaid agencies should be check the OIG's List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) on a monthly basis, and in connection with any new enrollments, to ensure that the state Medicaid program does not enroll or continue the enrollment of any individual or entity that has been excluded from participation in all Federal health care programs by the OIG.

Learn more about exclusions and OIG's authority and the effects of exclusion.

Understanding LEIE search methods and resources

Because the LEIE exclusion information is available multiple ways, it is important to understand what search resources are available and then use the method that is best for your office or organization.

All exclusion information is updated by the 10th of every month. Choose from the following resources to perform your search:

Which search strategy do I use?

• If you are checking many names, consider downloading the Downloadable Database into your computer's spreadsheet or database program. This will enable you to use that program's search functions to crosscheck your names against the thousands of names on the LEIE.
• If you are checking only a few names, choose the Online Searchable Database. You can search up to five names at once.

Important Steps of the Verification Process

• Always remember to take the final step of identity verification using the Social Security Number (SSN) for an individual or Employer Identification Number (EIN) for an entity. It is not sufficient to simply find a matching first and last name on the LEIE.
  Downloadable Database users must verify the results by entering the SSN for an individual or EIN for an entity on the Online Searchable Database. The Privacy Act prohibits the distribution of SSNs so they cannot be included in the Downloadable Database.
• Maintain documentation of the initial name search performed and any additional searches conducted in order to verify results of potential name matches, regardless of whether you are using the Online Searchable Database or the Downloadable Database.

Tips for Better Searches

Use the following tips to assist you in finding the individual or entity that you are searching for.

• Verify the correct spelling of the name before starting your search.
• To achieve the most accurate search results, enter only the first few letters of the first and last names, or the first part of the entity name.
  • You do not need to capitalize letters in names.
  • For entity searches, start with the first letters of an entity's name. For example, searching for "dental" might return an entity named "DENTAL CARE UNLIMITED" but would not return an entity named "UNITED DENTAL CARE".
• Include punctuation in names:
  • If the name contains punctuation, you must include the punctuation in your search text. For example, if you are searching for “O’Donnell” or "O'Connor Dentistry," you must include the apostrophe.
  • We only allow apostrophes, hyphens, ampersands and commas in the LEIE search fields; all other characters are prohibited, including the following: # $ % * ! .
• Check for any name variations:
  • Check any former names used by the individual (e.g., maiden name, previous married name, etc.) in addition to the individual's current name, the database includes only the name known to OIG at the time an individual was excluded.
  • An individual with a hyphenated name should be checked under each of the last names in the hyphenated name (e.g., Jane Smith-Jones should be checked under Jane Smith and Jane Jones, in addition to Jane Smith-Jones).
• If a search result does not contain a DOB, UPIN, NPI, EIN, or SSN, it is not available from OIG. Contact the Exclusions Branch to determine if there is any other information available.

Online Search Instructions

To search for individuals or entities using the LEIE Online Searchable Database:

1. Go to the LEIE Online Search.
2. If you are searching for an individual, proceed to the next step. Click any of the associated hypertext links to search for multiple individuals, search for a single entity, or search for multiple entities.
3. Enter part of the individual’s name or the first few letters of an entity’s name in the name text box(es).
• If you are verifying multiple individuals or entities, enter one name per row.
• Refer to the previous section for tips to improve the accuracy of your searches.
• Click Clear to erase all text and start the form over.
4. Click Search. Click the column name to sort the results by a particular column.
5. Important! To verify the individual or entity:
• Click the Verify link (or the excluded individual's last name or the entity’s name) to view additional known data.
• In the text box underneath the data table, enter the Social Security Number (SSN) or the Employer Identification Number (EIN).
  
  Note, if the SSN or EIN is entered incorrectly three times, you will be asked to prove you are not a robot by completing a captcha before attempting a fourth try at verification. If the fourth SSN or EIN attempt is incorrect, you will be redirected to the LEIE search page to start over.
• Click Verify. The result of your verification attempt will be displayed in a message below the form.
6. Use the Print Search Results button to print documentation of your search. The print function of your browser will not work.

Printing Online Search Results

Please use the Print Search Results button to print documentation of your search. The print function of your browser will not work.

CSV Download File Questions

This section applies to the LEIE Downloadable Database files.

Why are you using a CSV instead of a ZIP or EXE file?

CSV stands for "comma-separated value." It is a plain-text file that will work with many different types of software, and we transitioned to using it in summer 2016. We no longer offer EXE or ZIP files for a number of technical reasons. For example, as Internet bandwidth capabilities have increased and the text files are relatively small there is no need to compress them to ZIP files. Previously posted .DBF/.EXE/.ZIP file are still available in the monthly archives.

I am not sure how to work with a CSV file. Can you help?

Most users typically import the data into specific software, such as Excel or a custom-built application, and then use the features within that application to work with the data. We recommend reaching out to your IT Department for specific advice on how to work with a CSV file and the software your company has made available to you.

I use your file with custom software my company created/owns. The CSV file isn't working and/or isn't compatible. Can you fix it?

We recommend reaching out to your IT Department to discuss how a CSV file works with your software. The CSV format is commonly recognized as an acceptable method to share data when many customers are using different software programs, some of which may be proprietary or custom-built for a specific company. OIG is unable to provide technical support for users' software.

The Excel file downloads with XXXXXX in the birthdate? Please fix.

If you are viewing the data in spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel and see XXXXXX in the DOB or any other column, you simply need to widen the column so the date has enough room to display its formatted numbers.

I downloaded the CSV file and opened it in Excel. I noticed that zip codes that begin with zero are missing those zeros and appear as three- or four- digit numbers. Can you fix this?

This is a formatting issue with Excel. To fix it, you'll need to format the Zip Code column so that Excel recognizes it as a zip code instead of a general number. To do this, take the following steps:

1. Open the CSV file in Excel.
2. Highlight the Zip Code column.
3. Right click then choose Format Cells from the menu that appears.
4. In the Number tab, choose Special.
5. Select Zip Code.

These steps may vary slightly depending on what version of Excel you are using.

Is there a way for me to just type in one or two names and search instead of downloading the entire database?

Yes, please visit our online search at https://exclusions.oig.hhs.gov.

Are there plans to put a public API on the LEIE database?

No, there are no plans for a public API.

Fixing problems with your LEIE entry

If you have an issue with a specific entry in the database, such as errors in the records, etc., please send your email to exclusions@oig.hhs.gov

Signing up for LEIE email notifications

You can sign up for our LEIE newsletter that includes updates and changes to the LEIE.