CDIP AHIMA Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

Sharing the mission of the CDI program should be done to ensure a clear sense of what CDI is and the CDI practitioner’s role within the organization. The mission statement defines the purpose, goals, and values of the CDI program, and how it aligns with the organization’s vision and strategy. The mission statement also communicates the benefits and expectations of the CDI program to various stakeholders, such as providers, executives, coders, quality staff, and patients. The mission statement can help establish the credibility, professionalism, and identity of the CDI practitioners, and guide their daily activities and decisions 2.

References: 1: AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition, p. 133 3 2: Mission CDI: Guiding goals, values, and principles 1

An outstanding query may result in an incomplete health record deficiency being assigned to a provider, if the query is not answered or resolved before the discharge or final coding of the patient. An outstanding query is a query that has been generated by the clinical documentation integrity practitioner (CDIP) or the coder, but has not been acknowledged or addressed by the provider. An outstanding query may affect the accuracy and completeness of the health record, as well as the coding, reimbursement, quality measures, and compliance of the hospital. References: : https://www.ahima.org/media/owmhxbv1/cdip_contentoutline_2023_final.pdf : https://my.ahima.org/store/product?id=67077

According to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2023, the principal diagnosis is defined as "the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the admission of the patient to the hospital for care"2. In this case, the patient was admitted with shortness of breath, productive yellow sputum, and a temperature of 101.2, which are signs and symptoms of pneumonia. The CXR confirmed the diagnosis of LLL pneumonia, which is a serious condition that requires inpatient care. Therefore, LLL pneumonia is the principal diagnosis.

The secondary diagnoses are defined as "all conditions that coexist at the time of admission, that develop subsequently, or that affect the treatment received and/or the length of stay"2. In this case, the patient had bilateral pleural effusion and kidney failure at the time of admission, which are coexisting conditions that affect the treatment received and/or the length of stay. The renal consult documented AKI with ATN, which is a more specific diagnosis than kidney failure and reflects the severity and etiology of the condition. Therefore, AKI with ATN and bilateral pleural effusion are secondary diagnoses.

References:

CDI Week 2020 Q&A: CDI and key performance indicators1

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 20232

This is the most compliant query based on the most recent AHIMA/ACDIS query practice brief because it is non-leading, non-suggestive, and provides multiple options for the physician to choose from. It also does not imply any financial or quality implications for adding a diagnosis associated with the BMI.

References: AHIMA/ACDIS. “Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice (2019 Update).” Journal of AHIMA 90, no. 2 (February 2019): 20-29.

The organizations that a clinical documentation integrity practitioner (CDIP) should monitor are Recovery Auditors (RAs), Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER), and Office of Inspector General (OIG). These organizations are involved in auditing, reviewing, and investigating the accuracy, completeness, and compliance of clinical documentation, coding, billing, and reimbursement practices of hospitals and other healthcare providers. The CDIP should monitor these organizations to stay updated on their policies, guidelines, findings, recommendations, and actions that may affect the CDI program and the hospital’s performance and reputation. [3][3] References: 1: https://www.ahima.org/media/owmhxbv1/cdip_contentoutline_2023_final.pdf [ 3][3]: https://my.ahima.org/store/product?id=67077

The clinical documentation integrity practitioner (CDIP) should interact with the physician to clarify whether or not the pneumonia is a hospital-acquired condition (HAC) by asking the physician to indicate if the pneumonia was present on admission (POA) based on the initial chest x-ray. This is because the POA status of a condition affects its coding, reporting, and reimbursement, and it is the responsibility of the physician to document the POA status of all diagnoses. The CDIP should not assume that the pneumonia developed after admission based on the timing of symptoms or treatment, as this may not reflect the true clinical picture. The CDIP should also not ask the physician about the causal relationship between the acute kidney injury and the pneumonia, as this is not relevant to the POA status. The CDIP should also not avoid querying the physician based on the presence of another MCC, as this may compromise the accuracy and completeness of documentation. (CDIP Exam Preparation Guide)

References:

CDIP Exam Content Outline

CDIP Exam Preparation Guide

Present on Admission Reporting Guidelines

The most appropriate action in this case is to query the provider to document the etiology of pneumonia, which is pseudomonas bacteria. This is because the etiology of pneumonia affects the coding and classification of the condition, as well as the severity of illness, risk of mortality, and reimbursement. According to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, pneumonia should be coded by type whenever possible, and if the type of pneumonia is not documented, then the default code is J18.9, Pneumonia, unspecified organism 2. However, if the type of pneumonia is documented, then a more specific code can be assigned, such as J15.1, Pneumonia due to Pseudomonas 3. Therefore, querying the provider to document the etiology of pneumonia will improve the accuracy and completeness of the documentation and coding, and reflect the true clinical picture of the patient.

References: 1: AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition, p. 139 4 2: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2021, Section I.C.9.a 3: ICD-10-CM Code J15.1 - Pneumonia due to Pseudomonas

The member of the clinical documentation integrity (CDI) team who can help provide peer-to-peer level of education on the importance of accurate documentation and query responses is the physician advisor/champion. The physician advisor/champion is a physician who supports and advocates for the CDI program and its goals, and who can communicate effectively with other physicians about the clinical and financial implications of documentation quality and accuracy. The physician advisor/champion can also serve as a liaison between the CDI team and the medical staff, and help to resolve any issues or conflicts that may arise from the query process. The physician advisor/champion can also provide feedback and guidance to the CDI team on clinical matters and documentation standards. (CDIP Exam Preparation Guide)

References:

CDIP Exam Content Outline1

CDIP Exam Preparation Guide2

The physician advisor/champion is a key role in the CDI program who serves as a liaison between the CDI staff and the organization’s medical and surgical staff. The physician advisor/champion needs to provide ongoing education regarding coding and reimbursement regulations to the organization’s medical and surgical staff to promote awareness, understanding, and compliance with CDI initiatives and goals.

References: AHIMA. “CDIP Exam Preparation.” AHIMA Press, Chicago, IL, 2017: 97-98.

In order to best demonstrate the impact of clinical documentation on severity of illness and risk of mortality, examples from the hospital’s actual cases are the most effective for physicians in a hospital. Examples from the hospital’s actual cases can show how specific documentation elements, such as diagnoses, procedures, complications, comorbidities, and present on admission indicators, can affect the severity of illness and risk of mortality scores of the patients, as well as the hospital’s performance and reputation. Examples from the hospital’s actual cases can also provide feedback and education to the physicians on how to improve their documentation practices and standards. References: : https://www.ahima.org/media/owmhxbv1/cdip_contentoutline_2023_final.pdf : https://my.ahima.org/store/product?id=67077

A rebilling is permissible when queries are answered after the initial bill, as long as the hospital follows the appropriate guidelines and procedures for rebilling, such as submitting a corrected claim within the timely filing limit, notifying the payer of the reason for rebilling, and documenting the query process and outcome in the health record. Rebilling may be necessary to ensure accurate coding and reporting of the patient’s condition and treatment, as well as appropriate reimbursement and quality measures. [3][3] References: 1: https://www.ahima.org/media/owmhxbv1/cdip_contentoutline_2023_final.pdf [ 3][3]: https://my.ahima.org/store/product?id=67077

The entity that has the following regulation is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which is the federal agency that oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs and sets the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) for health care organizations that participate in these programs. The regulation that requires a medical history and physical examination be completed and documented for each patient no more than 30 days before or 24 hours after admission or registration, but prior to surgery or a procedure requiring anesthesia services, is part of the CoPs for Hospitals, which are located in 42 CFR § 482.24. This regulation was revised in 2007 to align with the Joint Commission’s standard and to provide more flexibility and consistency for hospitals and practitioners. (CDIP Exam Preparation Guide)

References:

CDIP Exam Content Outline1

CDIP Exam Preparation Guide2

42 CFR § 482.243

According to the Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice (2019 Update) - AHIMA1, a query escalation policy should describe how to handle situations in which an answer is not received, an inappropriate answer or comment is provided, etc. The escalation policy should address when the issue is brought to the physician advisor, the department director, or administration with defined actions as to the responsibilities at each level. The policies should reflect a method of response that can realistically occur for the organization1. In this case, since the CDIP has tried multiple methods of communication with the doctor but still gets no response, the CDIP should elevate the issue to the physician advisor/champion, who can facilitate communication and education with the doctor and ensure documentation integrity and compliance1. However, before escalating the issue, the CDIP should consult with the CDI supervisor to review the case and confirm that the query is appropriate, relevant, and compliant with the query guidelines1. This would ensure that the escalation is justified and not based on personal bias or preference.

The other options are not advisable because they either involve skipping the escalation policy, reporting the doctor without proper review or feedback, holding a meeting without involving the physician advisor/champion, or giving up on querying altogether.

References:

Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice (2019 Update) - AHIMA1

This query option is the most compliant based on the most recent AHIMA/ACDIS query practice brief because it meets the following criteria:

It is based on clinical indicators in the health record that support a reasonable and logical connection between the conditions (femur fracture and osteoporosis).

It is non-leading and non-suggestive, as it does not imply a specific answer or diagnosis, but rather asks for the provider’s opinion based on their clinical judgment.

It is concise and clear, as it uses simple and direct language that avoids ambiguity or confusion.

It is relevant and specific, as it addresses a clinical issue that has an impact on patient care, quality reporting, and/or reimbursement.

It is consistent with clinical documentation integrity (CDI) standards and guidelines, as it follows the AHIMA/ACDIS query practice brief recommendations for query format, content, delivery, and documentation.

References:

CDIP® Exam Content Outline (https://www.ahima.org/media/1z0x0x1a/cdip-exam-content-outline.pdf)

CDIP® Exam Preparation Guide (https://my.ahima.org/store/product?id=67077)

Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice—2022 Update (https://acdis.org/resources/guidelines-achieving-compliant-query-practice%E2%80%942022-update)

The proper sequencing of the principal and secondary diagnoses in this case is as follows:

Principal diagnosis: Acute appendicitis. This is the condition, after study, that occasioned the admission to the hospital, according to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. The patient was admitted for laparoscopic surgery, which is a definitive treatment for acute appendicitis. The physician documented “possible acute appendicitis or probable Meckel diverticulitis” as the cause of the right lower quadrant abdominal pain. According to the AHA’s Coding Clinic, Fourth Quarter 2016, pp. 147-148, when a physician documents two diagnoses connected by “or”, coders should query the physician for clarification if possible. However, if a query is not possible or not answered, coders should assign codes for both conditions, unless one of them has been ruled out or confirmed by further testing or treatment. In this case, there is no indication that either acute appendicitis or Meckel diverticulitis has been ruled out or confirmed by further testing or treatment. Therefore, both conditions should be coded and reported. However, only one of them can be the principal diagnosis. Since acute appendicitis is more commonly associated with laparoscopic surgery than Meckel diverticulitis, and since it has a higher relative weight than Meckel diverticulitis under the MS-DRG system, it is reasonable to select acute appendicitis as the principal diagnosis 23.

Secondary diagnosis: Right lower quadrant abdominal pain. This is a sign or symptom that is associated with the principal diagnosis and requires clinical evaluation, therapeutic treatment, diagnostic procedures, extended length of hospital stay, or increased nursing care and/or monitoring. The patient presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain as a manifestation of acute appendicitis or Meckel diverticulitis. The pain required clinical evaluation by abdominal ultrasound and therapeutic treatment by laparoscopic surgery. Therefore, it should be coded and reported as a secondary diagnosis 4.

Secondary diagnosis: Type I diabetes mellitus. This is a chronic condition that affects the patient’s care in terms of requiring diagnostic or therapeutic services or affecting patient outcomes or resource utilization. The patient has a history of type I diabetes mellitus and received an injection of neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin to normalize the blood sugar level prior to surgery. Therefore, it should be coded and reported as a secondary diagnosis 4.

References: 1: AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition, p. 133 2: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2021, Section II.A 3: AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, Fourth Quarter 2016 4: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2021, Section III.C : AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition https://my.ahima.org/store/product?id=67077

A primary step for the CDIP to promote the CDI program throughout a major hospital is to determine the primary interests of an individual or department that could benefit from or support the CDI program. This is because different stakeholders may have different motivations, expectations, and challenges related to CDI, and the CDIP should tailor the communication and education strategies accordingly. For example, physicians may be interested in how CDI can improve their quality metrics, reimbursement, and patient outcomes; coders may be interested in how CDI can reduce coding errors, denials, and queries; and executives may be interested in how CDI can enhance revenue integrity, compliance, and reputation. By identifying the primary interests of each individual or department, the CDIP can demonstrate the value and relevance of the CDI program, address any barriers or concerns, and foster collaboration and engagement 23.

References: 1: AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition, p. 133 4 2: How to Promote Your Clinical Documentation Improvement Program 3: How to Market Your Clinical Documentation Improvement Program

The reference resource that should be used to obtain information about the signs and symptoms that are inherent to asthma is The Merck Manual. This is a comprehensive medical reference that covers various topics related to diseases, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The Merck Manual provides a detailed description of asthma, including its causes, risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and complications. According to The Merck Manual, the signs and symptoms that are inherent to asthma are wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and dyspnea (shortness of breath) 2. These symptoms are caused by the reversible bronchoconstriction and inflammation of the airways that characterize asthma. The Merck Manual also explains how these symptoms can be triggered or exacerbated by various factors, such as allergens, infections, exercise, cold air, stress, or medications 2.

References: 1: AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition, p. 133 3 2: Asthma - Pulmonary Disorders - Merck Manuals Professional Edition 4