Sanctions Searches

Why add a Sanctions Search as part of your Background Check?

Our Sanctions Search accesses over 3000 government registries held by international government and regulatory enforcement resources to help identify restricted, sanctioned, and prohibited individuals as it relates to political exposure, criminal activity, terrorism, financial sanctions, and debarments.

Enhanced Risk Management and Compliance

Adding a Sanctions Search to your background screening process provides an additional layer of protection that goes beyond traditional criminal checks. This comprehensive search helps organizations maintain regulatory compliance while protecting their reputation and operations from potential risks associated with hiring individuals who may appear on various watchlists or enforcement databases.

The search cross-references candidate information against multiple international databases, including those maintained by agencies such as the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Interpol, and various regulatory bodies worldwide. This thorough approach ensures that employers can make informed hiring decisions while meeting their due diligence obligations, particularly in industries with strict compliance requirements such as financial services, healthcare, and government contracting.

Criminal Record Search

Sanctions Searches

Colorado Adult Protective Services (CAPS) Check

Adults who receive support, care, treatment, and services from individuals employed by specified agencies are vulnerable to mistreatment, manipulation, and cruelty. To increase safeguards for these at-risk adults, the CAPS check was introduced. It is a required check for agencies licensed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Colorado employers must request a CAPS check, a search of the state’s Adult Protective Services (APS) data system, before hiring employees who will have direct access to vulnerable adults. This check reveals whether an applicant has been found guilty of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult in a documented APS case.

The CAPS Check requirement applies to many employers, including but not limited to:

To simplify the process, just provide your CAPS Check ID #. ECS will register as your third-party provider and run the CAPS check on your behalf.

National Practitioner Data Bank Search

The National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB) was established by the government to ensure that high-quality care standards are upheld. As a result, it helps minimize medical malpractice, unprofessional behavior, and patient abuse nationwide.

NPDB regulations require that this search be performed for newly hired physicians, dentists, and other healthcare practitioners. Additionally, an update is required every two years. In some organizations, the search must be repeated every two years for all staff, regardless of role.

The information included in the NPDB search covers adverse licensure actions, clinical privileges actions, and professional society membership actions taken against physicians and other healthcare practitioners. Consequently, this search is a vital part of any healthcare compliance program.

GSA /SAM Excluded Parties Report

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires the GSA to compile and maintain a list of parties that are debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, and declared ineligible from procurement and non-procurement federal programs.

Domestic Watch List Search

This identity search helps identify the names and addresses associated with an applicant’s Social Security Number (SSN). This information may be used to request additional public record searches within the jurisdictions corresponding to the candidate’s identified addresses.

OIG / List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) Sanctions Report

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) prohibits medical employers from hiring individuals who have been sanctioned or excluded from participating in federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid. By running this critical search, you protect your healthcare organization, patients, and staff.

To stay compliant and safeguard federal funds, many healthcare organizations choose to retrieve updated OIG reports annually—or even biannually. This proactive approach helps identify potential risks within your workforce.

Individuals may appear on the OIG Exclusion List for several reasons, including:

By understanding these exclusion triggers, healthcare employers can take the necessary steps to maintain compliance and reduce liability. Additionally, using OIG checks as part of a broader background screening process offers greater peace of mind.

Fraud and Abuse Control Information System (FACIS) Search

A FACIS (Fraud and Abuse Control Information System) search identifies any wrong actions committed by individuals or entities in the healthcare field. It includes information on disciplinary actions ranging from exclusions and debarments to letters of reprimand and probation. As a result, this search plays a key role in healthcare compliance screening.

Level 1 Search

In addition to searching the OIG database, a Level 1 search uncovers infractions, such as license suspensions, found in dozens of other federal databases. These include databases maintained by the Veteran’s Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Level 2 Search

Building on Level 1, a Level 2 search includes access to databases from 38 states. These records list individuals excluded from Medicaid coverage and explain the reasons. Moreover, this level checks each state’s list of individuals who are ineligible for Medicare coverage due to voluntary opt-outs.

Level 3 Search

Level 3 expands on the Level 2 search. It also reviews records from state medical boards (where permitted) to identify any disciplinary actions taken against a candidate. Additionally, it searches further state-level abuse and sanction databases, offering a comprehensive review.

Average Turn-Around Time

Instant

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Global Sanction Search?
Global Sanction Search is the comprehensive screening process that checks individuals, organizations, and entities against global watchlists, sanctions lists, and debarment lists. This search is essential for ensuring compliance with international regulations and avoiding potential risks related to financial fraud, terrorism, and criminal activity.
Compliance Risk Management refers to the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks that arise from failing to comply with regulatory and legal requirements. It involves monitoring and controlling compliance risks, ensuring that an organization adheres to relevant laws and regulations. Effective compliance risk management helps companies avoid penalties, reduce fraud, and maintain operational integrity.
An individual or entity may be placed on the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Exclusion List if they have been involved in activities such as healthcare fraud, abuse, or misconduct, or if they have violated Medicare or Medicaid program rules. The exclusion is typically a result of criminal convictions, false claims, or involvement in illegal billing practices. Being listed on the OIG Exclusion List prevents healthcare providers and suppliers from participating in federal healthcare programs, which can significantly impact their ability to operate within the healthcare industry.
The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) Report is a complete record of actions taken against healthcare professionals, including malpractice judgments, disciplinary actions, and exclusions from federal or state healthcare programs. The NPDB helps ensure that healthcare organizations and regulatory bodies have access to critical information about a practitioner’s professional background.