AHIMA CDIP Certification Sample Questions

The AHIMA Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner Certification Sample Question Set on this page is designed to familiarize you with the actual AHIMA CDIP exam format and question types. These sample questions help you understand how questions are structured and what to expect on test day. While they provide a useful starting point, they represent only a limited preview of the real exam experience.

These sample questions are intended for evaluation and familiarization only. To understand exam style, pacing, and reasoning patterns more clearly, we recommend trying our online sample practice environment. If you are preparing for the AHIMA Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner (CDIP) and want to assess your readiness more rigorously, structured, timed, scenario-based practice is recommended. This approach aligns with the cognitive demands and professional expectations typically associated with Clinical documentation specialists, health information management professionals, coding and compliance professionals working in settings such as Hospitals and health systems, outpatient and physician practices, healthcare consulting and revenue cycle organizations.

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The demo introduces core concepts, while full-length premium simulations provide deeper, scenario-based coverage that more closely reflects the actual cognitive demands of the AHIMA Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner exam, particularly in areas such as Clinical documentation integrity review, coding and reimbursement principles, regulatory compliance and quality reporting. You can use these sample questions as a starting point, then progress to the AHIMA CDIP Certification Practice Exam for stronger readiness. Our premium simulations are designed to mirror real exam conditions, helping you refine reasoning, pacing, and decision-making before your official exam attempt.

AHIMA CDIP Sample Questions:

01. A CDI Manager is performing a "Compliance Audit" of the team's queries. What is the most important element to check for in each query?
a) That the query used at least three different colors of text.
b) The length of the query (shorter is always better).
c) That the query is supported by clinical indicators and provides a "Clinically Undetermined" or "Other" option.
d) That the query resulted in a higher-paying DRG.

02. A facility’s policy requires that "Query responses must be signed and dated by the provider within 48 hours of discharge". This is an example of:
a) A federal law that applies to all hospitals.
b) A rule designed to decrease physician burnout.
c) A suggestion that has no impact on compliance.
d) A facility-specific requirement for documentation of query responses.

03. A patient is admitted for a "Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy". During the procedure, the surgeon also performs a "Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy". According to ICD-10-PCS guidelines for assigning and sequencing procedure codes, how many codes should be assigned?
a) Three codes: one for the uterus, one for the ovaries, and one for the fallopian tubes.
b) Two codes: one for the hysterectomy and one for the bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
c) Four codes: one for each specific body part involved.
d) One code for the hysterectomy; the others are components.

04. A provider responds to a query by writing "I agree with the CDI specialist" on the query form but does not update the progress notes. Why is this insufficient?
a) It is only insufficient if the patient has already been discharged.
b) Facility requirements and coding guidelines usually require the diagnosis to be in the body of the clinical record to be valid for coding.
c) The response must be written in red ink to be valid
d) The CDI specialist is not a licensed physician.

05. During a concurrent review of a patient admitted with "shortness of breath," the CDI practitioner finds a pH of 7.25 and a pCO2 of 60 on an arterial blood gas (ABG) report, but the physician has only documented "COPD exacerbation". This represents:
a) A conflict in documentation that must be ignored.
b) A reason to report the respiratory therapist for a faulty ABG.
c) Evidence that the patient is ready for discharge.
d) A documentation gap where clinical indicators support the more specific diagnosis of "Acute Respiratory Failure".

06. In the ICD-10-CM Tabular List, a "Code First" note is found under the code for "Secondary systemic amyloidosis" (E85.3). This instruction signifies:
a) The practitioner must sequence the underlying condition (e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis) before the amyloidosis.
b) The practitioner must query the physician to see which condition they prefer to list first.
c) The amyloidosis is always the principal diagnosis.
d) The code is optional and only used for research.

07. Which of the following is a "Coding Convention" found in the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index that a CDIP must recognize when reviewing documentation for a patient with "Hypertensive Heart and Chronic Kidney Disease, Stage 4"?
a) "See Also"
b) "With"
c) "Code Also"
d) "Excludes 1"

08. A "post-discharge query" is generated to clarify a sputum culture that returned after the patient left the hospital. The culture was positive for Pseudomonas. The current documentation only says "Pneumonia". What is the benefit of this query?
a) It has no benefit once the patient is discharged.
b) It allows the patient to get a refund for their stay.
c) It clarifies the etiology of the pneumonia, ensuring the record reflects the most specific clinical concept and accurate DRG.
d) It allows the hospital to charge for a more expensive antibiotic retrospectively.

09. A CDI practitioner is performing a "Retrospective Review" (after discharge but before billing). What is a potential disadvantage of this timing compared to "Concurrent Review"?
a) It is impossible to query once a patient has left the building.
b) There is no disadvantage; retrospective is always better.
c) Retrospective reviews do not require clinical indicators.
d) The physician may be less likely to remember the clinical details of the case.

10. A hospital’s CDI department has a formal "escalation policy" for unanswered queries. What is the primary leadership rationale for enforcing a documented chain of command in the query process?
a) To ensure accountability, prevent delays in billing, and prevent the loss of critical Severity of Illness (SOI) data.
b) To penalize physicians who disagree with the CDI specialist's clinical interpretation.
c) To force the HIM department to assign codes without the physician's input.
d) To reduce the CDI department's workload by shifting query follow-up to the Chief Medical Officer.

Answers:

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Note: These sample questions are not official exam questions and are intended only for familiarization and study purposes. If you find any typos or data entry errors in these AHIMA Certified Documentation Integrity Practitioner (CDIP) sample questions, please let us know by emailing us at feedback@medicoexam.com