Exclsuion Screening Tips
Posted on: 14 August 2020
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Exclusion screening is done to ensure that your employees are not excluded from federal programs, such as healthcare programs, that they may receive benefits from as part of their employment. It's a requirement that you perform such screening if your company provides any benefits through these programs.
Collect Thorough Information
It's important to be thorough when collecting identity information during the hiring process; otherwise, you may miss a possible exclusion. Have the new hire provide their full name, along with maiden name, nicknames, and any other name that the employee has used in the past. You will also need their social security or employee identification numbers, past addresses, and any other identifying information that they have used in the last few years. Make the collection of this information part of your new hire paperwork, and make sure it is updated regularly in the event of name changes or similar issues.
Perform Hiring Database Checks
Before the employee begins to work, you need to perform a database check for any possible exclusions. The government's List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) is the primary database that must be checked, but there are other exclusion databases, such as those with the General Services Administration, that should be accessed. An exclusion screening company is aware of and has access to all of these databases, so it can be worthwhile to outsource this task instead of putting it in the hands of your HR department.
Keep Up With Regular Checks
Exclusion screening is not a once and done task. It needs to be performed regularly so that any exclusions are found as soon as they go into effect. In most cases, monthly screening is ideal so neither you nor your employee end up with any penalties for a missed exclusion period. This can be hard to keep up with, especially if you have a large staff. Contracting with an automated monthly exclusion screening service can streamline the process so that it runs in the background. The company will provide the screening tools necessary so you can simply plug in your employee database and receive a screening report each month.
Protect Your Company
You can further protect your company by following two good screening practices. First and foremost, at hiring provide a signature document detailing what exclusion screening is and why it is performed. Require that the employee confirm that they are not aware of any exclusions and that they must notify you immediately if they are ever excluded. If an exclusion is found, make sure that the employee is notified immediately.
Contact a company that offers automated monthly exclusion screening for more help.