How the LEIE can meet HIPAA compliance
Under HIPAA regulations, individuals and entities, who are included in the HHS Office of Inspector General's List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE), are prohibited from participating in federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. The LEIE can be found on the OIG's website and is updated monthly to ensure that individuals and entities who have been excluded are not able to participate in federal healthcare programs and receive reimbursement for their services.
Covered entities, such as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, are required to regularly check the LEIE to ensure that they are not employing or contracting with excluded individuals or entities. HIPAA regulations require covered entities to check the LEIE at least once a month, and to retain documentation of these checks as part of their compliance program.
The LEIE can be used by covered entities to verify the exclusion status of individuals and entities that they are considering employing or contracting with. Healthcare providers and organizations can also use the LEIE to ensure that they are not employing or contracting with excluded individuals or entities. The OIG also encourages the public, including patients and their families, to check the LEIE to ensure that healthcare providers and organizations are not employing or contracting with excluded individuals or entities.
In summary, the LEIE is an important resource for ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations regarding excluded individuals and entities in federal healthcare programs. The list can be found on the OIG's website, is updated monthly, and is used by covered entities to verify exclusion status and ensure that they are not employing or contracting with excluded individuals or entities.
