Quality ManagementCommercialMedicare AdvantageDecember 12, 2023

Outpatient antibiotics toolkit fact sheet

This communication applies to Commercial and Medicare Advantage plans from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) in Missouri.

Antibiotic stewardship, the proper use of antibiotics, is important in the outpatient setting as the majority of prescribing takes place there. Antibiotics can sometimes be prescribed too often and not in proper ways. An estimated 30% to 50% of antibiotic prescriptions are given for viral infections.1 These practices have resulted in different types of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics. This is why we are sharing this toolkit information. We hope these resources, for both you and your office, will be helpful in fighting antibiotic resistance. We offer these as guides and options for you to use in your practice.

Refer to attachment to view full details.

In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Anthem is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc.

MOBCBS-CRCM-040729-23-CPN39410

ATTACHMENTS: Outpatient antibiotics toolkit fact sheet (pdf - 0.9mb)