What is a Level 2 background check?

A Level 2 background check is a fingerprint-based screening that searches state criminal records and the FBI's national database, as distinct from a Level 1 name-based check. The term comes from Florida statute but is used generically. Most state Medicaid programs and brokers require fingerprint-based checks for NEMT drivers and attendants, plus checks of sex offender registries, driving records and the OIG exclusion list, with rescreening every one to five years.

Why background checks matter for NEMT

Driver screening is a credentialing gate: a broker will not activate a driver without the required check on file, and a driver with a disqualifying offense found in an audit can void payment for the trips they performed. Build the check into onboarding, track expiration dates, and read background checks versus screening to understand what each report actually covers.

Related terms

• Drug and Alcohol Testing
• Medicaid Provider Enrollment
• Driver Qualification File
• Incident Report
• PASS Certification