Provider Signals™LEIE vs. SAM.gov: Exclusions & Background Checks Compared
Both the OIG LEIE and SAM.gov list parties excluded from doing business with the federal government — but they are run by different agencies and cover different ground. Here's how to think about each.
Different agencies, different purpose
The LEIE is the OIG's health-care exclusion list: who may not be paid by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health programs. SAM.gov (the System for Award Management, which absorbed the old EPLS) is run by the GSA and lists parties debarred or excluded from federal contracts and awards government-wide — including, but not limited to, health care.
| Category | OIG LEIE | SAM.gov exclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | HHS OIG | GSA |
| Covers | Federal health care program exclusions | All federal procurement/award debarments & exclusions |
| Primary use | Health care billing & employment screening | Federal contracting eligibility |
| Health care records | Comprehensive | Includes some OIG actions + non-health debarments |
Why screen both
The two lists overlap — some OIG exclusions also appear in SAM.gov — but neither is a superset of the other. OIG guidance and most compliance frameworks call for checking the LEIE as the system of record for health care exclusions, and SAM.gov to catch government-wide debarments that affect federal funding. Screening only one leaves a gap.
Building it into a program
A defensible screening program checks the LEIE (monthly), SAM.gov, and applicable state Medicaid lists, documents each run, and re-screens existing staff and vendors — not just new hires. See our best-practices checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is SAM.gov the same as the LEIE?
No. The LEIE is the OIG's health care exclusion list; SAM.gov is the GSA's government-wide list of parties debarred or excluded from federal contracts and awards. They overlap but cover different scopes.
Do I need to screen SAM.gov in addition to the LEIE?
Most compliance programs screen both: the LEIE as the health care system of record and SAM.gov for government-wide debarments. Checking only one can leave a gap.
What happened to the EPLS?
The Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) was retired and its data moved into SAM.gov, which is now the single source for federal exclusion and debarment records.
Data & methodology
Sources: OIG LEIE, CMS NPPES. This page is informational and does not constitute legal or compliance advice.
Put this into practice.
Provider Signals turns federal data into alerts you act on — start free in minutes.