Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

You’ll have more options than 616.10 in ICD-10.

Vaginitis and vulvovaginitis is the inflammation or infection of the vulva and vagina. This can result in discharge, itching, and pain.

ICD-9-CM Code: Currently, you should report this condition with 616.10(Vaginitis and vulvovaginitis unspecified).

ICD-10-CM Codes:However, in 2015, you’ll have more options. They are:

• N76.0, Acute vaginitis
  
• N76.1, Subacute and chronic vaginitis
  
• N76.2, Acute vulvitis
  
• N76.3, Subacute and chronic vulvitis
  

ICD-10-CM Change: Your single ICD-9 code expands into four different options in 2015. You’ll specify the patient’s condition on whether she has acute vaginitis (N76.0), subacute and chronic vaginitis (N76.1), acute vulvitis (N76.2), or subacute and chronic vulvitis (N76.3). 

Documentation: You should use one of these diagnoses when the physician documents “the inflammation of the vagina” or “the inflammation of the vagina characterized by pain and a purulent discharge.” 

If you see “vaginitis NOS,” “acute vulvovaginitis,” or “vulvovaginitis NOS,” you should report N76.0.

If you see “chronic vulvovaginitis” or “subacute vulvovaginitis,” you should report N76.1.

If you see “vulvitis NOS,” you should report N76.2.

If you see “chronic vulvitis” or “subacute vulvitis,” you should report N76.3.

Alphabetic Index: Here’s how you’ll find this in your Alphabetic Index:

Vaginitis (acute) (circumscribed) (diffuse) (emphysematous) (nonvenereal) (ulcerative) N76.0

- bacterial N76.0
- chronic N76.1
- subacute or chronic N76.1

Vulvitis (acute) (allergic) (atrophic) (hypertrophic) (intertriginous) (senile) N76.2

- subacute or chronic N76.3

Coding tips: The N76 code category excludes senile (atrophic) vaginitis (N95.2) and vulvar vestibulitis (N94.810) under a type 2 excludes note. This means that if either of these 2 conditions co-exists with many of the vaginal or vulvar infections, they can be reported in addition. 

You should use an additional code to identify the infectious agent (B95-B97) if known. You might look at E. coli, Staphylococcus, or Streptococcus.