Certified Professional Compliance Officer – CPCO
The AAPC Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO) certificate meets the ever increasing compliance requirements of government laws, regulations, rules and guidelines. Medical practices require employees who can develop, organize, manage and direct the functions of a compliance department. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides that compliance programs become a mandatory condition for inclusion in federal health programs. The requirement was endorsed by Daniel R. Levinson of the Office of the Inspector General during his testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce of the Health
As a CPCO Certified Individual, you have demonstrated an understanding of the key requirements required to effectively develop, implement and monitor a healthcare compliance program for your practice based on government guidelines – including internal compliance. Reviews, audits, risk assessments Education and training of staff.
The CPCO is a certificate of healthcare compliance that will help you take your career to the next level.
Prepare for the CPCO exam
Learn more about the CPCO exam.
- CPCO Preparation Course
- CPCO Study Guide
- Practice exam
- CPCO test
CPCO Preparation Course
This online course is designed to prepare the AAPC CPCO exam student for a career as a compliance officer in a practice or medical facility. The course covers the key requirements necessary to effectively develop, implement and monitor a healthcare compliance program in your practice based on government guidelines – including internal compliance reviews, audits, risk assessments and staff training and education.
CPCO Study Guide
The CPCO Study Guide prepares you for the AAPC CPCO Health Compliance Exam. Compliance history, guidelines for the OIG, HIPAA, EMTALA, CLIA and OSHA compliance program, and other important implementing laws are reviewed in text in an easy to understand outline format. Test execution techniques to optimize exam preparation.
Online practice exam CPCO
This 50-question practice exam is taken online and is the BEST way to measure your readiness for the actual CPCO. The content of the online practice exam mimics that of the certification exam itself.
The CPCO certification exam
- 150 multiple choice questions (supervised)
- 5 hours and 40 minutes to complete the exam
- 1 free repetition that can be used within one year of the first attempt
- Approved references
The CPCO certification exam includes the following elements:
- History of the healthcare compliance program
- 7 questions
- History of health laws in the United States
- Previous research on the healthcare industry
- Federal Sentencing Guidelines
- Implementation of compliance program guidelines
- Key organizations involved in ensuring health compliance
- Up-to-date statistics on CERT reports and national health expenditure
- OIG Five Principles Strategy
OIG Compliance Program Instructions for
- Doctors and practices in small groups
- 33 questions
- general informations
- The seven “steps”
- Company standards of conduct and guidelines
- Monitoring requirements
- Compliance training
- Monitoring and testing
- Communication
- disciplinary measures
- Respond to detected crimes
Compliance Program Guidelines.
- Third party billing companies and clinical laboratories
- 4 questions
- Lab orders and invoicing
- 1997 Balanced Budget Act and diagnostics
- Use of external billing companies
Guide to the OIG’s Supplementary Compliance Program for Hospitals
- 4 questions
- Additional hospital advice
Main areas of risk and others
- 28 questions
- Risks associated with the execution of the physician compliance program
- Documentation
- Conflict of interest
- Gifts / Tips
- Medical need
- Advance notifications of beneficiaries
- Incident too
- Overpayments / credits
- Certificates of medical necessity
- Home health and therapy service certifications
- Billing for services not covered
- Teaching doctors
- Gain Sharing Agreements
- Joint ventures
- Limitation of fees for PAR and non-PAR practices
- Professional courtesy / discounts / adjustments
- Rental of office space
- Illegal advertising
- State escheat laws
Fraud and Abuse Laws
- 20 questions
- Difference between fraud and abuse
- Civil fines
- False Claims Act
- Anti-bounce status
- Strong laws
- Fraud Enforcement and Reclamation Act (FERA)
- Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA / health reform)
Other laws and regulations
- 36 questions
- HIPAA
- EMTALA
- CLIA
- OSHA
- RICO (Racketeers Influenced and Corrupted Organizations Act)
Investigations / process audits
- 13 questions
- Summons and search warrants
- Using legal aid
- Self-disclosure protocol
- Who Tam / Whistleblower
- Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIA)
- Certification of Compliance Agreements (CCA)
- Excluded parties (OIG and GSA)
- RAC, ZPICS, MIC, PSC and MFCUS
References / Resources
- 5 questions
- Federal regulations / citations / references
- Office of the Inspector General
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Medicaid and workers’ compensation
Recommended Resources for Preparation
| S.No | Choose Your Specialty | Choose Your Certifications |
| 1 | Anesthesia and Pain Management – CANPC | CPC (Certified Professional Coder) |
| 2 | Cardiology (CCC) | COC (Certified Outpatient Coder) |
| 3 | Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CCVTC) | CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) |
| 4 | Emergency Department (CEDC) | CRC (Certified Risk Adjustment Coder) |
| 5 | Family Practice (CFPC) | CPB (Certified Professional Biller) |
| 6 | General Surgery (CGSC) | CPMA (Certified Professional Medical Auditor) |
| 7 | Hematology and Oncology (CHONC) | CDEO (Certified Documentation Expert – Outpatient) |
| 8 | Obstetrics and Gynecology (COBGC) | CPPM (Certified Physician Practice Manager) |
| 9 | Ophthalmology (COPC) | CPCO (Certified Professional Compliance Officer) |
| 10 | Orthopedic Surgery (COSC) | Medical Coding |
