AHIMA CDIP - Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner

Inconsistent clinically relevant queries may make physicians lose respect for CDI efforts and disengage because they may perceive them as irrelevant, redundant, or contradictory. Clinically relevant queries are those that affect the quality of care, patient safety, severity of illness, risk of mortality, or reimbursement. Inconsistent queries may result from lack of standardization, conflicting guidelines, poor communication, or lack of clinical validation. To avoid inconsistency, CDI practitioners should follow best practices such as using evidence-based criteria, adhering to query policies and procedures, collaborating with coding and quality staff, and seeking feedback from physicians and physician advisors 2.

References: 1: AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition, p. 136 3 2: Proactive CDI: Tackling the Problem of Physician Engagement 4

The first step in changing a departmental workflow is to assess the current workflow and identify the problems or inefficiencies that need to be addressed. This will help to define the gaps and solutions, set realistic timelines, and re-engineer the process.

References: AHIMA. “CDIP Exam Preparation.” AHIMA Press, Chicago, IL, 2017: 125-126.

An appropriate first step to address physicians with low query response rates is an educational session between the clinical documentation integrity practitioner (CDIP) and physician because it provides an opportunity to explain the purpose and benefits of the query process, to identify and address any barriers or challenges to responding, and to offer feedback and guidance on how to improve query response rates. An educational session can also help to build rapport and trust between the CDIP and the physician, and to demonstrate respect and professionalism. (CDIP Exam Preparation Guide)

References:

CDIP Exam Content Outline1

CDIP Exam Preparation Guide2

Understanding CDI Metrics3

According to AHIMA’s Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice, the clinical documentation integrity practitioner (CDIP) should complete the documentation at the time of discussion or immediately following to avoid a compliance risk for this follow up failure. This is because verbal queries are considered part of the health record and must be documented in a timely and accurate manner to reflect the provider’s response and any changes in documentation or coding. Completing the documentation later or only when there is an agreement may result in errors, omissions, inconsistencies, or delays that may affect the quality and integrity of the health record and the query process. (AHIMA Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice1)

References:

AHIMA Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice1

Case mix index (CMI) is a measure of the average severity and resource consumption of a group of patients, such as those in a hospital or a diagnosis-related group (DRG). CMI reflects the financial impact of CDI by showing how documentation improvement can affect the DRG assignment and reimbursement. A higher CMI indicates more complex and costly cases, while a lower CMI indicates less complex and costly cases. CDI programs can monitor the changes in CMI over time to evaluate their effectiveness and return on investment. (Understanding CDI Metrics2)

References:

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

Understanding CDI Metrics2

The coding reference that should be used to access the general rules for the ICD-10-CM Includes Notes and Excludes Notes 1 and 2 is the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. This document provides the conventions and instructions for the proper use of the ICD-10-CM classification system, including the definitions and examples of the Includes Notes and Excludes Notes 1 and 2. The document is updated annually by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and is available online at 2. The other coding references listed are not specific to ICD-10-CM or do not contain the general rules for the Includes Notes and Excludes Notes 1 and 2.

References: 1: AHIMA CDIP Exam Prep, Fourth Edition, p. 133 3 2: ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2021 4

According to the AHIMA CDIP Exam Preparation Guide, one of the CDI metrics and statistics that CDI managers should track and interpret is the severity level measured against average length of stay (ALOS)1. This indicator reflects the complexity and acuity of the patient population and the quality of care provided by the hospital2. A low-severity level with a high ALOS may indicate under-documentation or under-coding of the patient’s condition, which may affect the hospital’s reimbursement, risk adjustment, and quality scores3. Therefore, the CDI manager should keep in mind that this indicator is a key factor of measurement for quality reports when discussing this observation with physicians, and educate them on the importance of documenting and coding accurately and completely to reflect the patient’s true severity of illness. The other options are not correct because they do not address the issue of severity level measured against ALOS, or they are not relevant to the CDI manager’s role or responsibility. References:

CDIP Exam Preparation Guide - AHIMA

Demystifying and communicating case-mix index - ACDIS

Severity of Illness: What Is It? Why Is It Important? | HCPro

According to the AHIMA/ACDIS Query Practice Brief, one of the best practices for a compliant query process is to provide ongoing education to physicians on the importance of documentation integrity, the query process, and the impact of documentation on quality measures, reimbursement, and compliance1. Education can help physicians understand the rationale and expectations for responding to queries, as well as the benefits of accurate and complete documentation for patient care and data quality. Education can also address any barriers or challenges that physicians may face in responding to queries, such as time constraints, technology issues, or workflow preferences1. References:

AHIMA/ACDIS Query Practice Brief – Updated 12/2022

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

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