Frank Ruelas (francisco.ruelas@dignityhealth.org) is a Facility Compliance Professional with Dignity Health in Phoenix, AZ.
A contractor often plays a vital role in providing services that support the healthcare entity’s efforts to provide healthcare to its patients. For this reason, compliance professionals must see that steps are taken so the contractor is aware of and supports the healthcare entity’s compliance program.
Efforts prior to contracting
Perhaps one of the most fundamental steps a compliance professional can take is to screen a potential contractor against the Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE). This step will promote a healthcare entity’s establishment of a relationship with a contractor that will support the entity’s compliance program.
The LEIE is updated monthly by the OIG and is publicly available on the OIG’s website (https://oig.hhs.gov/exclusions/exclusions_list.asp). By checking the LEIE initially and frequently thereafter, a healthcare entity may avoid civil monetary penalties by unknowingly contracting with an individual or entity that is excluded from federal healthcare programs.
