CCDS Exam fully solved & updated (latest version verified for accuracy) | Latest!!
1. What is the pass rate for first-time CCDS exam takers? - (ANSWER)77% (23% do not pass).
2. Which CCDS eligibility pathway requires 2 years of CDI experience in inpatient IPPS? -
(ANSWER)Pathway 1 - Healthcare Professionals (RN, RHIA, RHIT, MD, DO).
3. What is the critical difference between DRG optimization and DRG creep? - (ANSWER)Optimization =
accurate reflection of patient complexity; Creep = inappropriate upcoding without support.
4. Which official references are allowed during the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)DRG Expert (any year) + one
approved drug reference (e.g., Mosby's, Nursing Drug Handbook).
5. What is the relative weight difference between DRG 191 and DRG 193 for pneumonia? -
(ANSWER)1.3167 vs. 0.6981 — an 89% increase.
6. How many scored questions are on the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)120 scored questions + 20 unscored
pretest questions.
7. What is the time limit for the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)3 hours (180 minutes).
8. What percentage of CCDS exam questions are recall-level? - (ANSWER)30%.
9. What percentage of CCDS exam questions are application-level? - (ANSWER)40%.
10. What percentage of CCDS exam questions are analysis-level? - (ANSWER)30%.
11. What is the minimum waiting period to retake the CCDS exam after failing? - (ANSWER)90 days.
12. What is the exam fee for ACDIS members (domestic)? - (ANSWER)$280.
,CCDS Exam fully solved & updated (latest version verified for accuracy) | Latest!!
13. What is the exam fee for non-members (domestic)? - (ANSWER)$380.
14. What is the additional fee for international candidates? - (ANSWER)$100.
15. Which government program sets the rules for IPPS? - (ANSWER)CMS (Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services).
16. What does IPPS stand for? - (ANSWER)Inpatient Prospective Payment System.
17. What is the main purpose of CDI programs? - (ANSWER)Ensure accurate, specific documentation to
support quality care and appropriate reimbursement.
18. What does MS-DRG stand for? - (ANSWER)Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Group.
19. How many MS-DRGs exist in FY 2025? - (ANSWER)773
20. Which MS-DRG was newly created in FY 2025 for cardiac procedures? - (ANSWER)MS-DRG 317:
Concomitant LAAC + Cardiac Ablation.
21. What does CMI stand for? - (ANSWER)Case Mix Index.
22. What does a higher CMI indicate? - (ANSWER)Patients are more complex and resource-intensive.
23. What is the typical CMI increase from effective CDI programs? - (ANSWER)0.10-0.25.
, CCDS Exam fully solved & updated (latest version verified for accuracy) | Latest!!
24. How much additional revenue can a 0.15 CMI increase generate for a 300-bed hospital annually? -
(ANSWER)About $13.5 million.
25. What are CC and MCC in CDI coding? - (ANSWER)Complication/Comorbidity and Major
Complication/Comorbidity.
26. What is the difference between CC and MCC? - (ANSWER)MCCs are the most severe, resource-
intensive conditions; CCs are moderate complications.
27. What is the function of the CC Exclusion List? - (ANSWER)Prevents diagnoses from counting as
CC/MCC when they are manifestations of the principal diagnosis.
28. What is the average time per question on the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)1.3 minutes.
29. How long should a recall-level question take? - (ANSWER)30-45 seconds.
30. How long should an application-level question take? - (ANSWER)60-90 seconds.
31. How long should an analysis-level question take? - (ANSWER)2-4 minutes.
32. What is the purpose of pretest questions on the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)They are trial items that
don't count toward the score.
33. What are the three cognitive levels tested in CCDS? - (ANSWER)Recall, Application, Analysis.
34. What is the recommended overall target score on practice exams before taking CCDS? -
(ANSWER)85% or higher.
1. What is the pass rate for first-time CCDS exam takers? - (ANSWER)77% (23% do not pass).
2. Which CCDS eligibility pathway requires 2 years of CDI experience in inpatient IPPS? -
(ANSWER)Pathway 1 - Healthcare Professionals (RN, RHIA, RHIT, MD, DO).
3. What is the critical difference between DRG optimization and DRG creep? - (ANSWER)Optimization =
accurate reflection of patient complexity; Creep = inappropriate upcoding without support.
4. Which official references are allowed during the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)DRG Expert (any year) + one
approved drug reference (e.g., Mosby's, Nursing Drug Handbook).
5. What is the relative weight difference between DRG 191 and DRG 193 for pneumonia? -
(ANSWER)1.3167 vs. 0.6981 — an 89% increase.
6. How many scored questions are on the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)120 scored questions + 20 unscored
pretest questions.
7. What is the time limit for the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)3 hours (180 minutes).
8. What percentage of CCDS exam questions are recall-level? - (ANSWER)30%.
9. What percentage of CCDS exam questions are application-level? - (ANSWER)40%.
10. What percentage of CCDS exam questions are analysis-level? - (ANSWER)30%.
11. What is the minimum waiting period to retake the CCDS exam after failing? - (ANSWER)90 days.
12. What is the exam fee for ACDIS members (domestic)? - (ANSWER)$280.
,CCDS Exam fully solved & updated (latest version verified for accuracy) | Latest!!
13. What is the exam fee for non-members (domestic)? - (ANSWER)$380.
14. What is the additional fee for international candidates? - (ANSWER)$100.
15. Which government program sets the rules for IPPS? - (ANSWER)CMS (Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services).
16. What does IPPS stand for? - (ANSWER)Inpatient Prospective Payment System.
17. What is the main purpose of CDI programs? - (ANSWER)Ensure accurate, specific documentation to
support quality care and appropriate reimbursement.
18. What does MS-DRG stand for? - (ANSWER)Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Group.
19. How many MS-DRGs exist in FY 2025? - (ANSWER)773
20. Which MS-DRG was newly created in FY 2025 for cardiac procedures? - (ANSWER)MS-DRG 317:
Concomitant LAAC + Cardiac Ablation.
21. What does CMI stand for? - (ANSWER)Case Mix Index.
22. What does a higher CMI indicate? - (ANSWER)Patients are more complex and resource-intensive.
23. What is the typical CMI increase from effective CDI programs? - (ANSWER)0.10-0.25.
, CCDS Exam fully solved & updated (latest version verified for accuracy) | Latest!!
24. How much additional revenue can a 0.15 CMI increase generate for a 300-bed hospital annually? -
(ANSWER)About $13.5 million.
25. What are CC and MCC in CDI coding? - (ANSWER)Complication/Comorbidity and Major
Complication/Comorbidity.
26. What is the difference between CC and MCC? - (ANSWER)MCCs are the most severe, resource-
intensive conditions; CCs are moderate complications.
27. What is the function of the CC Exclusion List? - (ANSWER)Prevents diagnoses from counting as
CC/MCC when they are manifestations of the principal diagnosis.
28. What is the average time per question on the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)1.3 minutes.
29. How long should a recall-level question take? - (ANSWER)30-45 seconds.
30. How long should an application-level question take? - (ANSWER)60-90 seconds.
31. How long should an analysis-level question take? - (ANSWER)2-4 minutes.
32. What is the purpose of pretest questions on the CCDS exam? - (ANSWER)They are trial items that
don't count toward the score.
33. What are the three cognitive levels tested in CCDS? - (ANSWER)Recall, Application, Analysis.
34. What is the recommended overall target score on practice exams before taking CCDS? -
(ANSWER)85% or higher.
