Med-Net CO-Q Program
Compliance Officer Qualified (CO-Q) Certificate Program
Compliance and Ethics programs have been mandatory for all skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) since the passage of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, with oversight and enforcement provided by the Office of Inspector General (OIG). Compliance and ethics programs, including the requirement for a compliance officer, became a SNF Condition of Participation in March of 2013.
Why was the CO-Q Program Designed?
The CO-Q curriculum consists of a comprehensive review of the OIG’s Seven Elements of an Effective Compliance Program that are needed to establish and maintain an effective compliance and ethics program.
The CO-Q designation is awarded through a comprehensive examination covering seven element compliance domains:
- Element 1: Standards, Policies, and Procedures
- Element 2: Compliance Program Administration
- Element 3: Screening and Evaluation of Employees, Physicians,Vendors, and Other Agents
- Element 4: Communication, Education, and Training on Compliance Issues
- Element 5: Monitoring, Auditing, and Internal Reporting Systems
- Element 6: Counseling and Discipline for Noncompliance
- Element 7: Investigations and Remedial Measures
Who Should Consider Professional Compliance Qualification?
This professional qualification program establishes core standards and requirements for compliance management oversight in long-term care settings. Successful completion of the comprehensive examination results in a Certificate of Achievement issued by Med-Net Academy, LLC.
For professionals, the CO-Q designation provides those working in compliance and ethics management a means to demonstrate their proficiency and skill in the discipline.
Organizations that require the CO-Q designation as a condition for the compliance and ethics officer role, are provided a means to validate compliance and ethics management knowledge, skill, and competency when asked about the qualifications of their compliance and ethics officer and compliance staff.
CO-Q Designation Requirements
Candidates for the CO-Q designation are those who include compliance practices as an integral component of current or future professional responsibilities, such as:
- Non-Clinical Healthcare Professionals with the requisite background
- Compliance and Ethics Officers
- Quality and Risk Management Professionals
- Healthcare Executives
- Healthcare Professionals with the requisite background
Candidates must possess academic and professional experience to include one of the following levels:
- Baccalaureate degree with at least one (1) year of compliance experience in a healthcare setting; or
- Related education with a minimum of three (3) years of compliance experience in a healthcare setting.
Completing the Program
Once eligibility has been authorized by the Med-Net Credentialing Committee’s review of the candidate’s application, there are two ways to complete and attain the Compliance Officer Qualified (CO-Q) designation.
- Completion of a review of the Compliance Officer Qualified (CO-Q) Certificate Program modules for all seven elements and achieve a passing score on each posttest and the final examination; or
- Exam Only Option.
The CO-Q designation is a certificate awarded upon the successful completion of the course requirements.
Med-Net’s CO-Q Certificate Program course materials have been reviewed and approved by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Board’s (NAB) National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) for continuing education credit for nursing home administrators.
Details of the Program
For more information on the CO-Q Certificate Program, please see the CO-Q Certificate Program Candidate Handbook.
Purchase the Modules
CO-Q modules can be purchased in two ways:
- The full CO-Q program, which includes all course materials and the final exam
- Individual CO-Q training modules, which can be taken for NAB/NCERS continuing education (CE) credits
For the Exam Only option of the CO-Q Certificate Program, or to pay the program application fee, please see the CO-Q Certificate Program section of the Med-Net Store by clicking below.
CO-Q Modules Access
Once the application is approved and the courses have been paid for, you can access the Compliance Officer-Qualified Modules by clicking below.
Professional Portfolio-Exam Only Option
The Compliance Officer-Qualified Certificate Program Criteria for Development and Evaluation of the Program Portfolio can be found by clicking below.
For more information on the CO-Q Certificate Program, please see the Candidate Handbook or email [email protected].