The provided source material focuses exclusively on free resources offered by CCO, a training provider for medical coding and billing professionals. The documentation outlines opportunities for Continuing Education Units (CEUs), practice exams, community access, and educational reports. All resources are targeted at U.S.-based medical coders, billers, and students seeking to obtain or maintain certification through organizations such as the AAPC and AHIMA. The information below is derived strictly from the provided data, prioritizing official statements from CCO’s websites and sign-up pages.
Free Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
CCO provides several avenues for obtaining free CEUs, which are essential for maintaining professional certification. These opportunities are designed to introduce coders to the CCO community and provide ongoing education.
Live Monthly Q&A Webinars CCO offers 1 free AAPC CEU for attending live Monthly Q&A Webinars. According to the source, this CEU can also be submitted to AHIMA due to a reciprocal agreement between the two organizations. Details regarding the frequency of these webinars or specific registration steps beyond attendance are not provided in the available data.
On-Demand CEU Quizzes A primary offering is the ability to earn 2 free AAPC or QPro CEUs through the CCO Academy. To claim these, users must submit a form to join the CCO Academy Community. The process is outlined as follows: * Sign-up: Submit the form on the designated page. Users are instructed to allow approximately 5 minutes to receive a welcome email. The documentation explicitly states that users must use their real names, as fake or initialed names will be deleted and will not result in a valid certificate. * No Cost: CCO states there is "no catch" and no surprise costs or fees associated with the free CEU. This is described as a method of giving back to the community. * Accessing Content: Once the welcome email is received and the user logs in, they can access the "Free CEU area." This area contains replay videos. * Quiz Requirement: After watching a replay video, the user must click a link to take a CEU quiz. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass. * Certificate: Upon achieving a passing score, the user is presented with a CEU certificate that can be printed or downloaded. * Eligibility: The CEUs obtained through this method are accepted by both the AAPC and AHIMA.
Free Practice Exams
CCO offers free practice exams for various medical coding certifications. These exams are part of the "CCO Proven Process," which is a structured approach to certification preparation. The available data lists the following free practice exams: * CPC® Practice Exam (Free) * COC® Practice Exam (Free) * CPB® Practice Exam (Free) * CRC® Practice Exam (Free) * ICD-10-CM Practice Exam (Free) * ICD-10-CM Guidelines Practice Exam (Free)
The documentation notes that CCO offers weekly support calls as part of their course and Blitz packages, where users can get help on topics related to the material. However, it is not explicitly stated in the provided chunks whether the free practice exams include access to this support.
Free Community Access and Resources
Joining the free CCO community provides access to educational content and alerts for upcoming events.
CCO Academy Community (formerly "Free Forum") The CCO Academy Community is the central hub for free resources. Signing up involves submitting a form, after which users should allow up to 15 minutes to receive a welcome email with login details. The community includes access to the on-demand CEU quizzes mentioned previously.
Webinars and Live Events CCO broadcasts weekly webinars on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. These webinars cover topics such as new medical coding, medical billing, and risk adjustment. Additionally, members of the free community receive alerts regarding live events, including the Monthly Q&A Webinars and Live Student Q&A Webinars.
Free Reports and Job Aids By joining the CCO community, users gain instant access to a variety of free reports and job aids. The specific items listed in the source data include:
Reports: * How to Become a Certified Medical Coder * How to Prepare For Your First Medical Coding Test * How to Get Started in the Lucrative Medical Coding Field * Failed the Coding Exam? * A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding EM Coding * Test Your Practice Management IQ
Job Aids: * E&M Audit Tool For Office, Hospital, Home, Care Plan Oversight or Misc. Services * E&M Audit Tool For Outpatient Office Visits * Cardiac Catheterization Coding Answer Sheet * Administration of Contrast Job Aid Tool * CPT Modifier Decision Grid Job Aid Tool * Wound Measurement and Repair
CPT Modifier Decision Grid The CPT Modifier Decision Grid is specifically mentioned as a downloadable resource available in the cco.us "Freebies" section. This tool is designed to assist with clarifying or altering the meaning of procedure codes. The source also references reviewing documentation requirements and payer rules for modifiers, and studying scenarios to practice applying modifiers.
The CCO Proven Process
While much of the source material focuses on free resources, CCO outlines a broader "CCO Proven Process" for certification. This process includes: 1. Utilizing practice exams (free and paid versions). 2. Participating in weekly support calls (included with course and Blitz packages). 3. Registering for and passing the AAPC certification exam. 4. Returning to CCO for annual Continuing Education Units to maintain certification.
The documentation includes a testimonial from a user named Lakisha L., who stated she passed her certification after using Laureen’s blitz videos, noting, "I don’t think I could have passed the exam if I had not used her program."
Subscription Options
For users seeking more than the free offerings, CCO provides a paid subscription option called the "CCO Club." This is described as the most economical way to access "bells and whistles" such as handouts, CEUs, and support. The cost is stated to be less than $25 per month. The free community and free CEU options are presented as standalone resources that do not require a paid subscription.
Conclusion
The provided source material details a comprehensive suite of free resources for medical coding professionals and students offered by CCO. These resources are accessible by joining the CCO Academy Community, which grants access to free CEUs (via on-demand videos and quizzes), free practice exams for major certifications, and a library of educational reports and job aids. All free CEU offers require the use of a real name to generate a valid certificate and are accepted by both the AAPC and AHIMA. For those requiring more extensive support, a paid subscription to the CCO Club is available.