What Are the Consequences of Hiring an Excluded Individual?

Employing a listed individual or vendor—those included in the OIG Exclusion List—can result in severe penalties against healthcare organizations. These individuals are prohibited from engaging in federally funded projects like Medicare and Medicaid because of previous offenses such as fraud or abuse of patients. If a healthcare provider knowingly or unknowingly hires or contracts with an individual on this list, they can face severe consequences, including heavy civil monetary penalties, repayment of funds received during the exclusion period, and possible loss of eligibility for federal healthcare programs.