A neutral multiple-choice query is appropriate when significant clinical indicators exist but no corresponding diagnosis has been documented. The query should present the relevant patient-specific facts and allow the provider to exercise independent clinical judgment among reasonable alternatives.
For example, depending on the complete record, options could include sepsis, localized infection without sepsis, bacteremia, another condition, or unable to determine. Each offered diagnosis must be clinically supported.
A yes/no query is generally inappropriate when it introduces a completely new diagnosis that has never appeared in the health record. Option B is overtly leading because it directs the provider to document sepsis rather than requesting clarification.
The 2026 ACDIS/AHIMA compliant-query guidance, published August 20, 2026, supersedes all previous versions and serves as the current foundational standard for CDI and coding query practice. It applies across inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and professional-fee settings.
The purpose of the query is documentation integrity—not obtaining an MCC, changing the MS-DRG, or achieving a particular quality result.
CCDS Reference Topics: Multiple-choice queries; missing diagnosis; nonleading queries; clinical indicators; compliance.
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