CCDS-O Reviews Questions

To establish and query for a patient’s baseline renal function in the outpatient setting, eGFR is the most direct and standardized measure because it estimates kidney filtration capacity using serum creatinine (and patient factors such as age/sex, and sometimes race depending on the equation used). Outpatient CDI concepts emphasize that chronic kidney disease staging is based primarily on eGFR categories (G1–G5) and persistence over time, making eGFR trends particularly useful for determining whether the patient has CKD, whether it is worsening, and what stage should be documented. Serum creatinine alone can suggest decline but does not translate cleanly to CKD stage without calculating eGFR and considering patient characteristics. BUN is influenced by hydration status, protein intake, bleeding, and catabolic states, so it is less reliable for baseline kidney function assessment. ACR is important for detecting albuminuria and refining CKD classification/risk stratification, but it complements eGFR rather than replacing it as the primary indicator of baseline filtration function.

A compliant prospective query is initiated before the next encounter so the provider can clarify documentation during the upcoming visit, using clinically relevant indicators without directing a specific diagnosis. Option A does this appropriately: it references an existing CHF history and a supportive medication (Lasix), then asks the provider to confirm whether CHF is pertinent at the next visit and, if so, to specify type and acuity. This supports accurate outpatient reporting because heart failure coding requires specificity (systolic/diastolic/combined; acute/chronic/acute on chronic) and should reflect what is actually evaluated/managed at the encounter. Option B is retrospective and attempts to justify a prior test. Option C is leading because it asks the provider to “add” a diagnosis to a past note rather than clarify current clinical status. Option D is also retrospective and uses “please add CHF,” which is leading and can be perceived as prompting. Therefore, A best demonstrates a compliant prospective query.

In outpatient CDI, a strong specificity opportunity is to clarify the exactdiagnostic termthat best matches clinical indicators and supports correct ICD-10-CM reporting. The patient has multiple depressive symptoms (weight loss, poor appetite, low energy, impaired concentration), is already treated with an antidepressant (paroxetine), and has aPHQ-9 score of 11, consistent with at least moderate depressive symptom burden that warrants diagnostic clarity. Among the options, onlyMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD)is a recognized clinical diagnosis category with structured ICD-10-CM options that require further specificity (e.g., single vs recurrent episode, severity—mild/moderate/severe, psychotic features, and remission status). The other choices (“occurrence,” “event,” “reaction”) are nonspecific, nonstandard phrases that do not reliably map to accurate ICD-10-CM diagnostic reporting and do not help improve documentation precision. A compliant query would ask the provider to specify whether the patient hasMDDand, if so, document the episode type/severity and relationship to insomnia if clinically relevant, ensuring the record reflects what is being evaluated and treated during the encounter.

In ambulatory CDI, “risk adjustment impact” means the clarification can change whether an HCC-relevant condition is captured accurately (or captured at all) based on ICD-10-CM reporting rules. Here, “DM2 with peripheral neuropathy with diabetic ulcer” already establishes diabeteswith complications, so querying option B adds little—complications are already documented. “Nicotine dependence” is not supported because the patient stopped smoking two years ago; at most, this supports a history of nicotine dependence, which generally does not drive HCC risk scoring. “Morbid obesity” may be clinically relevant (BMI 43 supports it), but obesity typically does not produce meaningful CMS-HCC risk adjustment impact compared with other chronic categories. Thediabetic ulcerdoes matter: correct reporting requires an additional L97.- code that depends onulcer severity/depth(skin breakdown, fat layer exposed, necrosis of muscle/bone). Clarifying depth supports accurate ulcer severity coding and can affect HCC capture/validation for chronic ulcer burden.