Explanation
According to the AHIMA/ACDIS Query Practice Brief, whether or not queries should be kept as a permanent part of the medical record is decided by the organizational policy of each facility1. There is no federal or state law that mandates the retention of queries in the medical record, although some external reviewers may request copies of queries to validate the query wording and compliance2. Physician preference is not a valid factor in determining the query retention policy, as queries should be handled consistently across the organization3. Therefore, the correct answer is D. organizational policy. References:
Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice (2019 Update) - AHIMA Q&A: Develop policies regarding query retention | ACDIS Q&A: Keep query retention policies consistent | ACDIS