Primary Care Coding Alert

Question: I’ve been using B37.3 to report yeast infections, but the last claim I submitted was denied. Has something changed?

Maine Subscriber

Answer: Two new codes took effect as of Oct. 1, 2022. The yeast infection code you’re accustomed to reporting, B37.3 (Candidiasis of vulva and vagina), is now the parent code to two more specific codes:

• B37.31 (Acute candidiasis of vulva and vagina)
• B37.32 (Chronic candidiasis of vulva and vagina)

This means you’ll have to look for keywords within the notes to determine whether the practitioner’s diagnosis and documentation can accommodate this updated degree of specificity. According to the ICD-10 Committee notes (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/icd/March-2021-proposal-packet-508.pdf), “recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis” is “defined as 3-4 or more episodes of symptomatic infection within one year.” However, it’s up to the practitioner to determine the condition as chronic. Always query the provider if it is not clear whether a condition is acute or chronic.