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Help combat antibiotic resistance during cold and flu season: Best practice for your patients’ health and HEDIS compliance
Cigna·Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Practice +2 more·Quality Measures
Effective date
Nov 1, 2025
We identified it
Jun 18, 2026
Summary
Cigna Healthcare issued guidance on appropriate antibiotic prescribing during cold and flu season, emphasizing that viral respiratory infections should not be treated with antibiotics to improve HEDIS quality measure scores and combat antibiotic resistance.
Action Required
Immediately: Providers should review antibiotic prescribing practices for upper respiratory infections and avoid prescribing antibiotics for viral conditions. Display antibiotic stewardship commitment in exam rooms. Document medical necessity when antibiotics are prescribed. Billing team should track URI visits to ensure appropriate coding and support HEDIS quality measure compliance.