Wachler & Associates Health Law BlogOIG LEIE Search Errors
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a discovery that during the time period from July 15, 2010 through August 4, 2010 the search/verification function on the online searchable List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) was not working properly. Therefore, health care providers who conducted searches during this time period are advised to repeat the searches because it is possible that searches may have resulted in false negative results, i.e. individuals and/or entities that are actually excluded may have shown up as not excluded.
Medicare providers who contract with or employ excluded providers are subject to civil monetary penalties, nonpayment for services and possible exclusion themselves.
For more information regarding obligations to search the excluded providers list as well as other compliance issues, please contact a Wachler & Associates attorney 248-544-0888.