Note from the ACDIS Interim Director: Final ACDIS/AHIMA 2022 Guidelines for Compliance Query Practice brief released

by Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC

Members of ACDIS and AHIMA began work to update the Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice©* brief in the summer months of this year. The committee, recognized on page 18-19 of the brief, worked tirelessly to revise and update this guidance. The first draft was released for a peer review to leaders within our organizations. ACDIS members of the Regulatory Committee and the Advisory Board were asked to review and provide comments.

These comments were then considered by the committee, resulting in the second draft that was released for public comment on October 25, 2022.  We wished to seek feedback from all involved in the industry in hopes of developing clear guidance and best practices related to provider query. Judging by the responses we received, the industry is very much committed to a compliant provider query process. This was very exciting to us, and we appreciate the time many took to review and communicate their feedback.

We now share with you the finalized draft of this guidance, which is available here. Our goal was to clarify previous guidance in the hopes that it could be followed more easily and not allow for gross misinterpretation. As with any guidance, each organization should review and apply this guidance within the context of their practices and policies. The brief offers much direction about the need for organizational policies related to query practice. We suggest you review your existing policies and identify any areas requiring further attention.

Our world is quickly evolving, the reasons we seek clarification from providers is ever changing, and the tools we use to communicate this process are numerous. Both communities, ACDIS and AHIMA, expect that this brief will require further updates, and we look forward to leading these discussions in the future.

Access the Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice—2022 Update here.

*© 2022 AHIMA and ACDIS with equal rights.

Editor’s note: Prescott is the interim director for ACDIS and director of CDI education for HCPro, based in Middleton, Massachusetts. Contact her at lprescott@acdis.org.