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CCDS-O Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist-Outpatient (CCDS-O)

  • ACDIS
  • 4 free sample questions

About this exam

CCDS-O is the ACDIS exam Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist-Outpatient (CCDS-O). Paid practice material for this exam is not available yet, but you can try its free sample questions.

Exam code
CCDS-O
Vendor
ACDIS
Practice questions
Not available yet
Free sample questions
4
Question bank last updated
Not available yet

Try 2 sample questions

Taken from the free sample set for CCDS-O.

Question 1

The table below provides data indicating the use of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) diagnosis code assignment for years 1 and 2 of an ambulatory CDI program. Based on the data and if the HCC value assigned to MDD was 0.299, which of the following should be inferred?

  1. Option A:
     The number of patients increased with an equal increase in use of MDD specified and a decrease in MDD, unspecified, not impacting future cost benchmarking.
  2. Option B:
     The number of patients increased with an increase in use of MDD specified and a decrease in MDD, unspecified, impacting future cost benchmarking.
  3. Option C:
    The number of patients increased with the difference between MDD specified and MDD, unspecified insignificant, not impacting future cost benchmarking.
  4. Option D:
    The number of patients increased with an increase in use of MDD specified and an increase in MDD, unspecified, impacting future cost benchmarking.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Year 2 shows a higher total volume of MDD diagnoses (185,090 vs. 155,501), but the key CDI signal is the shift in coding specificity: “MDD, specified” increases substantially (118,516 vs. 76,318), while “MDD, unspecified” decreases (66,574 vs. 79,193). In outpatient CDI terms, this pattern is consistent with improved documentation quality and code capture—providers are describing the condition with greater clinical detail (episode type, severity, remission status, recurrence, etc.), allowing assignment of more specific ICD codes. When an HCC value (0.299) is associated with MDD, improved capture of qualifying, specific MDD codes supports more accurate risk adjustment. That increases the accuracy of projected resource need and affects future cost benchmarking (and potentially quality/utilization comparisons) because the population’s documented burden of illness is better represented. 

Question 2

A patient returns to a PCP for follow-up care related to a UTI. The provider documents “stage 3 CKD” as determined by a single eGFR of 52 mL/min. Which of the following actions should the CDI specialist take?

  1. Option A:
    Add diagnosis of CKD stage 3 to claim, as it is reportable.
  2. Option B:
    Review CKD staging criteria with provider.
  3. Option C:
    Delete CKD diagnosis from claim as it was not treated during this encounter.
  4. Option D:
    Query for stage 4 CKD.
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B

Outpatient CDI guidance emphasizes that documentation must reflect a condition that is clinically valid, supported by the record, and accurately described, especially for chronic diseases. CKD is generally established by evidence of decreased kidney function or kidney damage that is persistent, not a one-time lab that could be affected by hydration status, acute illness, medications, or transient physiologic changes. While an eGFR of 52 falls within the numeric range commonly associated with stage 3a, the key CDI issue is the foundation for diagnosing chronic disease, not simply whether the number is “reportable.” Option A inappropriately directs CDI to add diagnoses to claims; CDI supports providers and coding, but does not independently “add” conditions. Option C is incorrect because chronic conditions may be coded when addressed/impact care, not only when actively treated. Option D is unsupported because eGFR 52 does not suggest stage 4.
See all 4 free sample questions