CCDS CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
A. The ulcer would not be coded as it is a hospital-acquired
condition
B. The ulcer would be coded as an MCC to the pneumonia
C. The ulcer would be coded as principal diagnosis
D. The ulcer would not be coded as the physician has not provided
its etiology or location
◉A. 1,2, and 3
1. Ensure that each medical record accurately reflects the patient's
SOI and the resource consumption of the admission
2. Provide physicians with necessary information so they can better
understand coding guidelines
3. Assist in the accurate coding of diagnoses being monitored and
treated. Answer: The purpose of a concurrent query is to:
1. Ensure that each medical record accurately reflects the patient's
SOI and the resource consumption of the admission
,2. Provide physicians with necessary information so they can better
understand coding guidelines
3. Assist in the accurate coding of diagnoses being monitored and
treated
4. Eliminate retrospective queries
A. 1,2, and 3
B. 1,3, and 4
C. 2,3, and 4
D. 1,2,3, and 4
◉D. 1,2,3, and 4
1. Ambiguous, inconsistent, and incomplete documentation
2. The clinical significance of abnormal test results
3. The specificity or degree of severity of a condition
4. Conditions that were present on admission. Answer: Concurrent
queries should be designed to clarify:
1. Ambiguous, inconsistent, and incomplete documentation
2. The clinical significance of abnormal test results
3. The specificity or degree of severity of a condition
,4. Conditions that were present on admission
A. 1 and 3
B. 1,2, and 3
C, 1,2, and 4
D. 1,2,3, and 4
◉B. Risk factors of a condition, signs and symptoms of a condition,
and treatment. Answer: When formulating a credible clinical query
for a physician, which of the following information should a CDI
specialist incorporate?
A. Medical history of the patient, past medications, and current
medications
B. Risk factors of a condition, signs and symptoms of a condition,
and treatment
C. Treatment plan for the admission
D. Possible DRG choices for the physician to review
◉C. Identify conditions for when and how a query will be
formulated. Answer: Policies and procedures that spell out a
concurrent query process are important to:
A. Ensure that retrospective queries do not occur
, B. Stipulate conformance to AHIMA guidelines
C. Identify conditions for when and how a query will be formulated
D. Prevent the need for coding audits
◉A. Treated by correcting the underlying condition. Answer:
Metabolic encephalopathy is:
A. Treated by correcting the underlying condition
B. Caused by trauma to the head
C. A minor comorbid condition
D. Usually the principal diagnosis
◉B. Cerebral edema secondary to a lesion in the brain. Answer: A
patient is admitted with new-onset severe headache, visual changes,
difficulty swallowing, and hypertension (HTN). Clinically, which of
the diagnoses below would best explain these symptoms?
A. Arteriosclerosis
B. Cerebral edema secondary to a lesion in the brain
C. Acute renal failure
D. Lou Gehrig's disease
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
A. The ulcer would not be coded as it is a hospital-acquired
condition
B. The ulcer would be coded as an MCC to the pneumonia
C. The ulcer would be coded as principal diagnosis
D. The ulcer would not be coded as the physician has not provided
its etiology or location
◉A. 1,2, and 3
1. Ensure that each medical record accurately reflects the patient's
SOI and the resource consumption of the admission
2. Provide physicians with necessary information so they can better
understand coding guidelines
3. Assist in the accurate coding of diagnoses being monitored and
treated. Answer: The purpose of a concurrent query is to:
1. Ensure that each medical record accurately reflects the patient's
SOI and the resource consumption of the admission
,2. Provide physicians with necessary information so they can better
understand coding guidelines
3. Assist in the accurate coding of diagnoses being monitored and
treated
4. Eliminate retrospective queries
A. 1,2, and 3
B. 1,3, and 4
C. 2,3, and 4
D. 1,2,3, and 4
◉D. 1,2,3, and 4
1. Ambiguous, inconsistent, and incomplete documentation
2. The clinical significance of abnormal test results
3. The specificity or degree of severity of a condition
4. Conditions that were present on admission. Answer: Concurrent
queries should be designed to clarify:
1. Ambiguous, inconsistent, and incomplete documentation
2. The clinical significance of abnormal test results
3. The specificity or degree of severity of a condition
,4. Conditions that were present on admission
A. 1 and 3
B. 1,2, and 3
C, 1,2, and 4
D. 1,2,3, and 4
◉B. Risk factors of a condition, signs and symptoms of a condition,
and treatment. Answer: When formulating a credible clinical query
for a physician, which of the following information should a CDI
specialist incorporate?
A. Medical history of the patient, past medications, and current
medications
B. Risk factors of a condition, signs and symptoms of a condition,
and treatment
C. Treatment plan for the admission
D. Possible DRG choices for the physician to review
◉C. Identify conditions for when and how a query will be
formulated. Answer: Policies and procedures that spell out a
concurrent query process are important to:
A. Ensure that retrospective queries do not occur
, B. Stipulate conformance to AHIMA guidelines
C. Identify conditions for when and how a query will be formulated
D. Prevent the need for coding audits
◉A. Treated by correcting the underlying condition. Answer:
Metabolic encephalopathy is:
A. Treated by correcting the underlying condition
B. Caused by trauma to the head
C. A minor comorbid condition
D. Usually the principal diagnosis
◉B. Cerebral edema secondary to a lesion in the brain. Answer: A
patient is admitted with new-onset severe headache, visual changes,
difficulty swallowing, and hypertension (HTN). Clinically, which of
the diagnoses below would best explain these symptoms?
A. Arteriosclerosis
B. Cerebral edema secondary to a lesion in the brain
C. Acute renal failure
D. Lou Gehrig's disease
