Here are some patient resources and HEDIS tip sheets on acute bronchitis and acute low back pain

This is part of an ongoing series of articles focusing on the tools and resources available to help FEP members manage their health.

The standard of care for patients with acute bronchitis or acute low back pain focuses on symptom management. Here are some health care provider and patient resources for conservative treatment for these conditions.

The Be Antibiotics Aware** campaign from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers resources to help providers educate patients on treating common viruses, such as acute bronchitis. Here are a couple of available resources:

• Viruses or Bacteria — What’s got you sick?**
• Relief for Common Symptoms of Colds and Cough**

The CDC developed a poster, A Commitment to Improving Antibiotic Use,** for providers to post in their exam rooms to show a commitment to reducing inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, or HEDIS^®, tip sheet — Avoidance of Antibiotic Treatment for Acute Bronchitis/Bronchiolitis — provides helpful hints on avoidance of antibiotics and coding tips.

Choosing Wisely^®**  recommends avoiding imaging for acute low back pain within the first six weeks of onset, unless red flags are present. The American College of Physicians’ flyer — What You Should Know About Low Back Pain** — lists the causes, symptoms and treatment of acute low back pain, including the avoidance of imaging, that you can share with patients.

Blue Cross also developed a HEDIS^® tip sheet — Use of Imaging Studies for Low Back Pain — with information on measure compliance and helpful hints.

Accessing the tip sheets

The tip sheets are on the Secure Provider Resources section of Availity^® Essentials. You can get there by following these steps:

1. Log in to our provider portal at availity.com.**
2. Click on Payer Spaces on the Availity menu bar.
3. Click on the BCBSM and BCN logo.
4. Click on Secure Provider Resources (Blue Cross and BCN) and then on the Member Care tab.
5. Click on Clinical Quality and choose Tip Sheets from the drop-down menu.

For FEP benefit information, providers and members can call Customer Service at 1-800-482-3600 or visit fepblue.org.

HEDIS^®, which stands for Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set, is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance, or NCQA.

Availity is an independent company that contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network to offer provider portal and electronic data interchange services.

**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.