Note from the ACDIS Director: Publication of the ACDIS/AHIMA Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice—2026 Version

by Rebecca Hendren

ACDIS and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) are pleased to release the 2026 update to Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice. The new version replaces all previously published editions.

This brief is the foundational resource for CDI and coding professionals establishing or refining a compliant query practice and applies across inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and professional fee settings, with specific guidance noted for outpatient and ambulatory contexts throughout.

“As health information practices evolve and technology becomes more integrated into the documentation process, clear and trustworthy query practices are more important than ever,” according to Rana Abuzir, RHIT, FACHDM, who is the director of health information practice advancement at AHIMA and a member of the workgroup that updated the brief. “This guidance gives professionals a practical framework for protecting documentation integrity while preserving the provider’s independent clinical judgment. Whether a query comes from a person or technology, the standard for compliance should remain the same.”

Rana and other members of the workgroup, including Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, former interim ACDIS director, will be hosting a free informational webinar featuring a panel discussion on the new edition on September 30, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern. To sign up for the webinar and read the brief, click here. The webinar will offer 1 ACDIS CEU, which can be used for renewal of CCDS/CCDS-O credentials or any AHIMA credential.

The release of the new edition follows publication of the draft document in April 2026 and a call for public comment and feedback. The workgroup received comments from close to 200 individuals and groups across health systems, associations, committees, and other organizations who banded together to discuss and jointly submit their feedback.

The work group was assisted in final review by subject matter experts across AHIMA and ACDIS, including the ACDIS Advisory Board.

The updated brief is freely available by visiting the ACDIS website. AHIMA members can also reference it in the Body of Knowledge section available to members.

Editor’s note: Hendren is the director of ACDIS. Contact her at rebecca.hendren@hcpro.com.