In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about FACIS background checks—from the baseline FACIS Level 1M screening that fulfills OIG and CMS requirements, to the industry‑leading FACIS Level 3 that aggregates thousands of state and federal sanction sources. You’ll learn how each level works, what databases they include, and how to choose the right option for your organization’s compliance and patient‑safety goals. Plus, we’ll show you how Verisys’s real‑time data platform keeps your workforce verification up‑to‑date and audit‑ready at all times.
FACIS Level 1M Background Check
A FACIS Level 1M background check is the recommended baseline and minimally required compliance search for candidates employed by organizations that receive any government funding for state or federal health care programs.
FACIS Level 1M meets and exceeds the minimum standards set forth by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Compliance Program Guidance. It screens employees for state and federal exclusions, debarments, and disciplinary actions. Federal databases such as the Systems for Award Management (SAM) and the DHHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE) are included in the FACIS Level 1M background check, enabling healthcare providers to perform a thorough screening of potential employees.
FACIS Level 3 Background Check
The FACIS Level 3 background check is the industry gold standard, offering the most comprehensive screening by including all federal and state-level exclusions and sanctions data. This includes data compiled from more than 3,500 primary sources including aggregation of data from 2,500 state sources with state sanctioning boards from all 56 U.S. jurisdictions across all provider types. This information provides organizations with detailed reports for making well-informed hiring decisions.
Some of these state sources include:
- State Medicaid Exclusions
- State Contractor Disqualification/Debarment Lists
- HEAT Task Force
- State Attorney General
- Federal District – Attorney General
- Medicare Opt-Out Lists
- Medicaid Exclusion Lists
In addition to the all-inclusive search across state databases, FACIS Level 3 also includes inquiries from all federal data sources including:
- OIG
- SAM (including SDN)
- FDA Disbarment
- DEA
- GSA
- TRICARE
- FBI
- U.S. DOJ
- U.S. Treasury Dept
- U.S. State Dept
Which Level of FACIS Search Does Your Organization Need?
Using the correct FACIS level to fit your organization’s data and reporting needs is critical as it increases patient safety, maintains compliance, and avoids civil or monetary penalties. FACIS is the largest and most comprehensive sanction database in existence, and the most trusted data set for screening health care providers. It is continuously updated, undergoing rigid quality assurance on a timely basis to ensure data accuracy.
At a minimum, FACIS Level 1M satisfies the requirements of the OIG and CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) by screening providers for exclusions, debarments, disciplinary actions, and related issues. However, most clients opt for the FACIS Level 3 background check as it is all-inclusive and protects them from employing individuals or vendors who are sanctioned by a state-level licensing board.
We are proud to provide the best provider data verification for patient and organization protection so that our health care systems can maintain compliance, avoid civil penalties, increase patient safety, and support their providers on the frontlines. Verisys has an expansive data set, collecting longitudinal exclusion data since 1992. Verisys also consistently monitors and updates our database in near real-time (versus other companies which only do so monthly or quarterly) to ensure the highest security standards in the industry. Our automated platform works diligently to provide updated reports regarding new regulatory information, ensuring that healthcare organizations are never left in the dark.
Learn more about how Verisys can assist your HCOs in meeting all government and regulatory standards with healthcare license verification and provider credentialing services.
