OIG exclusion list

Nurses Recovery

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Ive been told most nurses in monitoring that were caught diverting meds will be put on a medicaid/medicare exclusion list..unable to work anywhere that accepts medicaid/medicare for 5 years minimum. 1.Has this been the case for most of you? 2.Where have you been able to work if you are on this list and in monitoring? Im feeling really discpuraged after hearing the news about this list.

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Specializes in OR.

No, absolutely not. Whoever gave that information has no clue what they are talking about.

1. The OIG exclusion list is generally for people who've had issues with fraud, theft, etc. So it does stand to reason that a nurse in monitoring could wind up on this list.

2. No. No and no. 'Most' nurses in monitoring do not wind up on this list. Even if one did, there is no set time limit. "Oh you have a 5 year sentence of OIG exclusion." Nope. Doesn't work like that. Once you are unfortunate to wind up on it, there is some paperwork to fill out but it is possible to be removed from it. I am not sure if there is a minimum time frame, but I am pretty sure it has to do with what occurred, not the fact that you are in any kind of monitoring or not.

3. If you are on this list, you can't work in any facility that takes Medicare/Medicaid in any capacity. That would pretty much limit your practice to private pay plastic surgery clinic affairs.

4. There is a website you can check to see if you are there. If not, don't worry about it. In my opinion, unless you tied a rope around the PYXIS and dragged it out to your car, it's unlikely that you are.

There is a person or 2 around here that has dealt with this that can give you some more insight, but I can assure you that it is not near as common a thing as whoever may have told you this nugget of disinformation.

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Here is a link to the search engine to find out. But yeah pretty rare to end up on the list. And it is possible to get off of the list.

Search the Exclusions Database | Office of Inspector General

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

You have been given some very good information here. The OIG exclusion list is for persons accused of fraud, theft (which in some cases includes diversion of narcotics in the workplace) and conviction for certain crimes of moral turpitude. You can check the link provided by Lisacar130 to see if you are on it. It's best to check about once a year if what landed you in monitoring included the above examples. There is a way to get off that list as well.

Take a deep breath and worry about only what's in front of you right now. The justified paranoia that comes with these programs is bad enough without adding to it.

Good luck to you!

Hppy

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Specializes in Med/Surg & Psych.

I was caught diverting PRN pain meds. I was charged in criminal court, eventually convicted of a misdemeanor obtaining a narcotic illegally. My nursing license was suspended for 90 days.

This was 13 months ago and I am not on the OIG list. I think it may be because I cooperated with the attorney general, I immediately entered into my states diversion program and I have never had a positive drug screen.

Like I said, this is what I think, my opinion, so who knows. Good luck though and just keep checking that list

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I just wanted to mention what I know, which doesn't cover everything. Nurses who have voluntarily relinquished or had their licenses revoked ended up on the OIG list. I think the key to avoiding being put on this list is immediate cooperation. I know a nurse who had an emergency suspension for grand theft of a narcotic, arrested, the whole nine yards. She immediately went into monitoring and never hit the OIG list. Chin up! You can do it!

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Thank you all so much for responding and for the info. I was caught diverting meds as well and have entered the IPRP program we have in Indiana. I havent heard from the board yet although i do know there is an investigation and i will eventually go in front of the board. I have just been focusing on going to meetings, and doing everything i need to do for my program. I love meetings so thats actually a plus. I have 60 days on the 10th of november. Im hoping to slowly but surely get back to nursing. I have went through so many up and down emotions regarding every part of the process and feeling like a loser for not having a nursing job let alone any job. But you all give me hope. Along with my sponsor who has been through all this as well.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
Thank you all so much for responding and for the info. I was caught diverting meds as well and have entered the IPRP program we have in Indiana. I havent heard from the board yet although i do know there is an investigation and i will eventually go in front of the board. I have just been focusing on going to meetings, and doing everything i need to do for my program. I love meetings so thats actually a plus. I have 60 days on the 10th of november. Im hoping to slowly but surely get back to nursing. I have went through so many up and down emotions regarding every part of the process and feeling like a loser for not having a nursing job let alone any job. But you all give me hope. Along with my sponsor who has been through all this as well.

Reach out to us here for support - there is a lot of love and support here as well as a bit of well justified frustration and kibitzing.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

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