Screening methodology
Conservative matching with source context
SourceCheckHealth favors exact identifiers, labels ambiguity clearly, and keeps official source links close to every workflow. It is a screening aid, not a final compliance decision.
Last verified: 2026-05-28. date_retrieved: 2026-05-28. Methodology references checked against the HHS OIG LEIE downloads page, the OIG online exclusions search, the CMS NPI Registry API, the CMS NPPES bulk file index, and the CMS Provider of Services Clinical Laboratories dataset on 2026-05-28.
Exact identifiers
High confidence
NPI and CLIA identifiers are checked before name matching.
Possible matches
Review required
Name and location matches remain possible until verified.
Audit trail
Run reports
CSV screenings produce a saved run and exportable result file.
NPI / NPPES
NPI lookups resolve against imported CMS NPPES rows and link out to the CMS NPI Registry API for the current public record. A found NPI identifies a provider or organization; it does not validate licensure, credentialing, Medicare enrollment, or current practice authority. Entity type, taxonomy, addresses, and endpoints are surfaced so reviewers can compare identity context before interpreting OIG signals.
Sources verified 2026-05-28: CMS NPI Registry API and CMS NPPES bulk file index.
HHS OIG LEIE
OIG rows are imported from the official LEIE active-exclusions CSV. Exact NPI matches are treated as high-confidence excluded. Business-name plus state, person-name plus state, ZIP-with-name, and fuzzy-name results are labeled as possible matches and require manual verification in the HHS OIG online exclusions search or the current downloadable LEIE before acting.
Sources verified 2026-05-28: HHS OIG LEIE downloads page (UPDATED.csv) and HHS OIG online exclusions search.
CMS CLIA
CLIA numbers resolve only by exact 10-character identifier and link to imported CMS Provider of Services clinical laboratory rows when available. Certificate type, status, and lab demographics are surfaced where present. CMS QCOR remains the authoritative source for current certificate context and any fields not in the imported snapshot.
Sources verified 2026-05-28: CMS Provider of Services Clinical Laboratories dataset, CMS CLIA laboratory registry, and CMS QCOR CLIA lab lookup.
Match confidence tiers
How OIG search results are ranked here
Every result on SourceCheckHealth carries an explicit confidence tier so reviewers can see why a row was surfaced before opening the official OIG verification step.
Exact NPI
highImported LEIE row matched by 10-digit NPI. Highest confidence; treat as excluded and confirm current status in the official OIG search before acting.
Exact business or person + state
possibleImported LEIE row matched by exact business or person name combined with state. Possible match; verify identifiers and current status in the official OIG search.
Name + ZIP or city
possibleImported LEIE row matched on name plus locality fields. Possible match; weakest geographic confirmation, requires manual review.
Fuzzy name
lowApproximate name similarity only. Lowest confidence and always returned as a possible match that requires manual verification.
OIG database verification
How to confirm an OIG search result against the official source
HHS OIG instructs anyone relying on the LEIE to verify a search result against the official online database before any payment, employment, or contracting decision. The flow on SourceCheckHealth is built around that verification step rather than around it.
- Capture the strongest identifier visible on the imported row: NPI when present, otherwise the full business or person name plus state and any imported locality fields.
- Open the HHS OIG online exclusions search and re-run the lookup using that identifier. Compare the returned exclusion type, exclusion date, and any sanctioning agency fields with the imported row.
- If the official record disagrees with the imported row, trust the official OIG source and treat the local row as stale. The source status page shows when the local LEIE snapshot was imported so you can decide whether to wait for the next refresh before acting.
- Retain documentation of the verification (screenshot, OIG search URL, date) alongside the imported row to support an audit trail.
Verified 2026-05-28 against the HHS OIG online exclusions search and the LEIE downloads page. SourceCheckHealth does not replace this verification step.
Official verification links
Every result should be checked against the original public source before a credentialing, contracting, billing, or employment action.
When those checks start from a roster, run the batch healthcare sanctions screening workflow and then verify any exact or possible matches against the listed official source.
FAQ
Practical notes
How do I do an OIG database verification on a search result?
Start with the imported LEIE row or batch screening output, capture the identifier (NPI when present) and name, then open the official HHS OIG online search or current LEIE download and re-run the lookup using the strongest available identifier. OIG asks reviewers to confirm a match before relying on it for payment, employment, or contracting decisions, and to retain documentation of the verification.
What does an OIG search result mean on this site?
An OIG search result here is an imported LEIE row that matched the input by exact NPI, business name, person name, location, or fuzzy name. Exact NPI is the highest-confidence tier; name-only matches stay as possible matches until a reviewer confirms them in the official OIG online search or downloadable LEIE.
What confidence tiers does the matching engine use?
Exact NPI is treated as high confidence. Exact business name plus state, exact person name plus state, and ZIP-plus-name combinations sit in the possible-match tier. Fuzzy name matches are lowest confidence and always require manual verification. CLIA lookups resolve only by exact CLIA number.
How fresh is the OIG data used here, and how should I confirm it?
OIG replaces the downloadable LEIE active-exclusions file monthly and updates exclusion information by the 10th of each month. SourceCheckHealth shows the import timestamp on the source status page so reviewers can decide whether a current official lookup is needed before acting on a match.
Does this methodology replace credentialing, licensure, or legal review?
No. The site is a public-source screening aid. It does not provide legal clearance, complete credentialing, licensure verification, Medicare enrollment status, or a final hiring decision.