Many people ask us what a FACIS® Level 3 search entails. 

In order to answer this question, one must first understand what a FACIS® search is and then it helps to understand the other levels of a FACIS® search.

FACIS® is an acronym that stands for Fraud Abuse Control Information System. The FACIS® database is available from Verisys, the leading provider of health care credentialing services. Since 1992, Verisys has been providing the highest quality data coupled with deep health care industry experience.

They are a Certified Credentials Verification Organization for all 10 NCQA standards and accredited by URAC, which ensures that their processes and results are of the highest quality.

SafestHires is considered an industry leader for the FACIS® search.

FACIS® Levels

FACIS® is separated into two levels that allow you to screen employees and vendors against different primary sources for exclusions, debarments, sanctions, and disciplinary actions.

FACIS® Level 1M is the recommended baseline and minimally required compliance search for candidates employed by organizations receiving government funding. It includes: FACIS® Level 1 plus State Medicaid sanctions, 42 HEAT sources and 51 AG Notice and Release sources, and state level procurement/contractor debarment sources.

FACIS® Level 3 is the gold standard of exclusion screening, verification, and monitoring, and includes: All sources in FACIS® 1M and the sanctioning boards from all 56 U.S. jurisdictions across all provider types. This accesses more than 3,000 sources.

At a minimum, FACIS® Level 1M, satisfies the recommendations set forth by the OIG and CMS by screening employees for federal and state exclusions and debarments. However, many of our clients feel that the best practice is to take a more assertive approach by monitoring employees through FACIS® Level 3. It protects them from the potential negative ramifications of employing individuals or vendors who are sanctioned by a state level licensing board.

Sanction Results Verifications

Client populations are screened against a very large 176 million record database. Possible or probable matches are flagged and verified with 100% accuracy to positively conclude that the match is or is not the individual you submitted.

Monthly Exclusion Monitoring

Once the initial screening of your population has been completed, per HHS-OIG guidelines, the populations should be monitored on a regular basis. Unlike the initial screening that looked back 7 years, the ongoing monitoring looks at only the last 30 days. Monitoring reduces your risk of financial and reputational risk.

Types of Health Care Providers Covered by FACIS®

The FACIS® search reports sanctions related to more than 50 types of healthcare professionals, including but not limited to:

Acupuncturists > Chiropractors > Clinical Laboratories > Counselors > Dentists > Dietitians > Nutritionists > Medical Equipment Suppliers > Hearing Aid Fitters > Optometrists > Ophthalmologists > Opticians > Optical Centers > Speech Pathologists > Audiologists > Managed Care Facilities > Home Health Care > Hospitals > Radiologists > Psychologists > Mental Health Counselors EMTs > Pharmacies > Therapists > Physicians and PAs > Podiatrists > Respiratory Care > Social Workers > Ambulance Companies > Nurses and Nurse Practitioners

Though both FACIS® levels meet federal requirements for healthcare-related screening, FACIS Level 3 is recommended because some states have screening requirements that exceed those of the federal government.

To see how a FACIS search can be ordered in our system, watch the demo video toward the bottom of this page.

Please contact us here for more information or to set up an account and get started with the FACIS® search.