CDIP - Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner Clinical Coding Practice Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient is admitted with acute exacerbation of COPD and pneumonia. The patient also has a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. After study, the physician determines the principal diagnosis is pneumonia. Which of the following is the correct action for the CDI practitioner regarding the principal diagnosis selection?

Accepted Answer

Query the physician for clarification, as either the COPD exacerbation or pneumonia could be principal.

Answer

When two or more diagnoses equally meet the definition for principal diagnosis, as in this case where both the COPD exacerbation and pneumonia are active and being treated, official coding guidelines direct the coder or CDI specialist to query the provider for clarification. The final determination rests with the attending physician.

Question 2

A CDI specialist reviews a record where the physician has documented 'urosepsis.' Laboratory results show a positive urine culture for E. coli and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria are met. What is the most appropriate next step for the CDI specialist?

Accepted Answer

Query the physician to clarify if the patient has sepsis, linking the clinical indicators and the term 'urosepsis'.

Answer

The term 'urosepsis' is ambiguous and not indexed in ICD-10-CM. While the clinical indicators suggest sepsis, the CDI specialist cannot make the diagnosis. The appropriate action is to query the physician, presenting the clinical evidence (positive culture, SIRS criteria) and asking for clarification on whether a diagnosis of sepsis is appropriate.

Question 3

Which of the following is a primary goal of clinical coding practice within a CDI program?

Accepted Answer

To ensure the coded data accurately reflects the patient's clinical picture and severity of illness.

Answer

The core purpose of CDI and the associated clinical coding practice is to ensure that the medical record documentation is complete and accurate, so that the assigned codes fully and precisely represent the patient's diagnoses, the severity of their conditions, and the services provided.

Question 4

A 78-year-old patient is admitted for a hip fracture after a fall. The medical record also contains a note from a consulting cardiologist stating 'Heart failure, likely diastolic.' The patient is treated with diuretics. How should the CDI specialist address the heart failure documentation?

Accepted Answer

Query the attending physician to confirm the diagnosis and specificity of the heart failure.

Answer

Even though a consultant has documented a diagnosis, the attending physician is ultimately responsible for the patient's diagnoses. The use of 'likely' indicates uncertainty. The CDI specialist should query the attending physician to confirm the diagnosis of heart failure, its type (systolic, diastolic, or combined), and its acuity (acute, chronic, or acute on chronic) to ensure accurate code assignment.

Question 5

The assignment of a complication or comorbidity (CC) or a major complication or comorbidity (MCC) to a patient's record directly impacts the:

Accepted Answer

MS-DRG (Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group).

Answer

The MS-DRG system is a severity-adjusted classification system. The presence of a documented and coded CC or MCC reflects a higher severity of illness and resource consumption, which in turn shifts the case to a higher-weighted MS-DRG, impacting reimbursement and severity metrics.

(CDIP) Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner Practice Test

(CDIP) Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner Practice Test

CDIP - Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner Clinical Coding Practice Questions and Answers