The provider's response should be respected unless new information or a genuine unresolved documentation issue creates a legitimate reason for additional clarification.
“Clinically unable to determine” is an acceptable professional conclusion when the available evidence does not permit the provider to confidently establish a diagnosis. A CDI specialist must not continue sending essentially the same query simply because a different response would produce more favorable reimbursement.
Likewise, CDI cannot alter the provider's response or instruct coding personnel to assign a diagnosis that the provider declined to establish.
The 2026 ACDIS/AHIMA Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice supersede all previous versions and serve as the current foundational resource for query processes. The query process is intended to improve the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of documentation—not to secure a predetermined financial result.
A legitimate follow-up could occur if new laboratory values, operative findings, transfusion information, pathology, or other material information emerges after the original response and creates a materially different clarification question.
Professional CDI practice requires balancing clinical advocacy with provider autonomy, ethical conduct, and regulatory compliance.
CCDS Reference Topics: Provider query responses; ethical CDI practice; repeated queries; provider independence; compliance.
=========
