Healthcare hiring is too important to hand off to a phone tree. Whether you run a hospital, a clinic, a home-health agency, a dental practice, or a long-term care facility, you need healthcare background checks that are thorough, compliant, and fast — and a real person to call when you have a question. At NCS Workforce, you're the priority. When you reach out, you'll quickly reach a live person in our office, not a bot or a queue. We pair powerful technology with real human support, because behind every great hire there should be people who care.
We've spent 20+ years running full-service background screening, and we built our healthcare screening around the searches your industry actually requires — OIG and GSA/SAM exclusion checks, license and credential verification, abuse-registry searches, and TRICARE-specific screening for DoD providers. It's screening that protects your patients and keeps you compliant.
Get a Quote — tell us your roles and volume, and we'll talk through exactly what you need.
Healthcare Background Checks, Built for Your Industry
Healthcare is one of the most regulated hiring environments in the country, and for good reason. Your patients are vulnerable, your surveyors are exacting, and keeping an excluded provider off your payroll protects both your patients and your federal reimbursements. We get it — and we've made it easy.
- Thorough where it counts. Exclusion checks, license verification, and abuse-registry searches are built into our healthcare screening, not bolted on as afterthoughts.
- Fast turnaround. Many searches come back quickly; county-level criminal searches typically take a few days, with some jurisdictions running longer depending on the court.
- Real human support. A knowledgeable team that answers the phone Monday through Friday — so when a result needs a second look, you talk to a person who knows healthcare screening.
- Hailey, your AI HR assistant. Right inside your command center, Hailey can help you understand results, choose the right package, and answer screening questions in plain language — with our team always a call away.
We're FCRA compliant and SOC 2 compliant, one of the first CRAs to earn PBSA accreditation (renewed in 2026), an A+ rated BBB member, and an NDASA member — the credentials that signal we take your compliance as seriously as you do.
Required Searches for Healthcare Roles
Different healthcare roles carry different risk, and your screening should match. Here are the searches healthcare employers rely on most, and what each one does:
- Exclusion and sanctions checks (OIG, GSA/SAM). Confirm a candidate isn't excluded from federally funded healthcare programs — a baseline requirement for anyone whose work touches Medicare or Medicaid. (GSA/SAM, sometimes called EPLS, is the government's master list of people and businesses barred from federal programs.)
- Abuse-registry searches. Screen against state abuse, neglect, and exploitation registries to protect patients in care settings.
- License and credential verification. Confirm that medical and dental licenses are active, valid, and free of disciplinary action.
- Criminal history. Multi-state criminal database, national sex offender registry, county and federal criminal searches, and OFAC/watchlist checks (an international screen that flags candidates against terrorism and sanctions lists).
- Identity and history. SSN trace to surface name and address history that points your criminal searches in the right direction.
- Drug screening. Lab-based and instant options, DOT and non-DOT, for facilities that require it. Drug Screening
Not sure which searches your roles require? That's exactly the kind of question our team is happy to walk through with you — and Hailey can help you sort it out inside your command center, too. Contact Us and we'll help you map searches to roles.
Screening Packages for Healthcare Background Checks
Most healthcare employers start with one of our three primary screening packages and layer on the healthcare-specific searches their roles require — exclusion checks, abuse-registry searches, license verification, and TRICARE screening for DoD providers. Not sure where to start? Hailey can help you choose, or call us and we'll build it with you.
| Package | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $29.95 | A solid entry-level criminal screen to get hiring moving |
| Essential | $45.95 | A deeper screen layering in additional searches and verification |
| Enhanced | $64.95 | Our most comprehensive standard package for most healthcare roles |
Need more? Our premium Expanded package ($74.95) adds even broader coverage for higher-risk or highly regulated clinical roles. Tell us about the role and we'll point you to the right fit.
For DoD autism-care providers, we also offer a custom-priced TRICARE package — nationwide criminal history, a 50-state sex offender search, plus state and county verification. Get a Quote
TRICARE screening for DoD providers
If you provide autism care under the Department of Defense's Comprehensive Health Background Check (CHBC) requirements, TRICARE screening has specific demands. Our TRICARE package covers nationwide criminal history, a 50-state sex offender search, and state and county verification, and it's custom-priced to your situation. Because the requirements are exacting, this is a great moment to lean on a real person — call us and we'll make sure you're covered.
Exclusion and Sanctions Checks: OIG, GSA, and MedCHECK Pro
Employing an excluded individual or entity can put your federal reimbursements — and your standing — at risk. Exclusion screening is a healthcare must-have, and we make it simple.
- OIG Exclusions. Checks the HHS Office of Inspector General List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE).
- GSA / SAM (EPLS). Checks the federal System for Award Management exclusion records.
- MedCHECK Pro. Our most complete sanctions sweep in one search: OIG, GSA, FDA, DEA, and TRICARE checks plus 50-state abuse registries.
For most healthcare employers, MedCHECK Pro is the easiest way to cover your exclusion and abuse-registry bases in a single search. Want it built into your standard hiring flow? We'll set that up — Contact Us for pricing on these searches.
License and Credential Verification
A license that looks current isn't the same as a license that is current. Our verification confirms the real status straight from the source, so a lapsed or disciplined credential doesn't slip through.
- Medical License Verification. Confirms license status across our covered medical and dental states.
- Surfaces active/inactive status and disciplinary flags so you can make an informed, job-related decision.
- Pairs naturally with our exclusion and criminal searches for a complete clinical-hire picture.
If your role sits in a state or specialty outside our standard coverage, tell us — our team can advise on the right verification path. Contact Us
Compliance: CMS, Joint Commission, HIPAA, and FCRA
Healthcare screening lives at the intersection of several regulatory frameworks. We help you meet them without making it complicated.
- CMS Conditions of Participation. Facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid are expected to screen staff and confirm they aren't excluded from federal programs. Our OIG and GSA/SAM checks speak directly to that expectation.
- The Joint Commission. Accreditation standards call for verified credentials and qualified staff. License verification and credential confirmation support your survey readiness.
- HIPAA. Protecting patient data starts with knowing who you hire. We handle applicant information with care and secure transmission throughout the process.
- FCRA. Every background check is governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. That means standalone written disclosure and the applicant's written authorization before you run a check — and a two-step adverse-action process (a Pre-Adverse Action Letter with a copy of the report and the applicant's FCRA rights summary, then, after a waiting period, the final Adverse Action Letter) before you decline a candidate based on a report.
We offer tools that help you stay compliant: we can collect FCRA-compliant consent electronically on your behalf and provide applicant-specific adverse-action templates to support a clean process. We also encourage the EEOC's individualized approach — weighing the nature of the offense, the time elapsed, the job-relatedness, and evidence of rehabilitation — before any employment decision. The FCRA disclosure, authorization, and adverse-action obligations rest with you as the employer, so for decisions specific to your organization, confirm requirements with your compliance or legal counsel.
A note on guidance: regulatory requirements vary by state, facility type, and program participation. The information on this page is general and not legal advice. For decisions specific to your organization — including FCRA and EEOC obligations — confirm requirements with your compliance or legal counsel.
Why Healthcare Employers Choose NCS Workforce
The big screening vendors are happy to route you to a chat window. We answer the phone, because you're the priority. That's the difference — and we back it with credentials, not just promises:
- 20+ years of full-service background screening expertise.
- 20,000+ customers nationwide trust us with their hiring.
- FCRA compliant and SOC 2 compliant, one of the first CRAs to earn PBSA accreditation (renewed in 2026), A+ rated BBB member, and NDASA member.
- Hailey, a true AI HR assistant in your command center. Most providers bolt AI onto the back end. We give you a hands-on, conversational assistant you can actually talk to — for screening questions, understanding results and charges, picking the right package, guiding applicants, and (advanced) adverse-action guidance — with real people always a call away.
Companies thrive when they're supported by real people who care. We're striving to exceed your expectations on every search you run.
Frequently Asked Questions
What background checks are required for healthcare workers?
Most healthcare employers run exclusion and sanctions checks (OIG and GSA/SAM), abuse-registry searches, license and credential verification, and criminal history searches. The exact mix depends on the role, your state, and whether you participate in Medicare or Medicaid. We're glad to help you map the right searches to each role — and Hailey can help you do it inside your command center.
What is an OIG exclusion check, and why does it matter?
An OIG exclusion check confirms a candidate or entity isn't on the HHS Office of Inspector General's List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE). Employing an excluded person can jeopardize your federal healthcare reimbursements, so it's a baseline screen for anyone whose work touches Medicare or Medicaid. Our MedCHECK Pro search bundles OIG, GSA, FDA, DEA, and TRICARE with 50-state abuse registries.
Do you offer TRICARE background checks for DoD providers?
Yes. Our TRICARE package is custom-priced for DoD CHBC autism-care providers and includes nationwide criminal history, a 50-state sex offender search, and state and county verification. Because the requirements are specific, we recommend a quick call so we can build it correctly for your situation.
How much do healthcare background checks cost?
Our primary screening packages start at $29.95 (Basic), $45.95 (Essential), and $64.95 (Enhanced), with a premium Expanded package at $74.95 for higher-risk roles. Healthcare-specific searches — OIG, GSA/SAM, MedCHECK Pro, medical license verification, and TRICARE — are priced based on what your roles require. Tell us your roles and volume and we'll build a quote around exactly what you need. Get a Quote
How fast are results?
Many searches come back quickly. County-level criminal searches typically take a few days, with timing depending on the jurisdiction.
Can NCS help us stay FCRA compliant?
We offer tools that help: we can collect FCRA-compliant applicant consent electronically on your behalf and provide applicant-specific Pre-Adverse and Adverse Action templates to support the two-step process. The FCRA obligations themselves rest with you as the employer, so confirm specifics with your compliance or legal counsel — and if you have a question along the way, a real person in our office is ready to help.
Get a Quote
Tell us about your roles, your volume, and the compliance frameworks you answer to — and we'll build healthcare screening that's fast and compliant. Just the searches you need and real people who care. Want pricing? Reach out and talk to a real person — we'll put together a quote around exactly what your organization needs.
Get a Quote or call us at (479) 695-2111, Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CST and Friday 8:00 AM–4:00 PM CST. You'll quickly reach a live person in our office. And once you're set up, Hailey is right there in your command center at mycommandcenter.com whenever you have a question. Login
Related: Background Check Packages & Pricing · Drug Screening · Compliance & FCRA · Continuous Monitoring · Meet Hailey
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