Assesses the percentage of episodes for members 3 months of age and older with a diagnosis of acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis that did not result in an antibiotic dispensing event. A higher rate indicates appropriate treatment for bronchitis/bronchiolitis (i.e., the percentage of episodes that were not prescribed an antibiotic).
Why It Matters
Acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis almost always gets better on its own; therefore, individuals without other health problems should not be prescribed an antibiotic. Ensuring the appropriate use of antibiotics for individuals with acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis will help them avoid harmful side-effects and possible resistance to antibiotics over time. Antibiotic resistance is a major health concern in the United States, with 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections and 35,000 deaths occurring annually. 1
Results – National Averages
Avoidance of Antibiotic Treatment for Acute Bronchitis/Bronchiolitis
| Measure Year | Commerical HMO | Commercial PPO | Medicaid HMO | Medicare HMO | Medicare PPO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 50.6 | 50.2 | 62.2 | 33.1 | 29.6 |
| 2021 | 47.6 | 47.2 | 55.7 | ||
| 2020 | 44.3 | 43.9 | 55.3 | ||
| 2019 | 41.2 | 40.2 | 52.3 | ||
| 2018 | 35.1 | 32.5 | 36.4 | - | - |
| 2017 | 32.0 | 29.7 | 33.8 | - | - |
| 2016 | 29.9 | 27.0 | 30.4 | - | - |
| 2015 | 27.6 | 25.8 | 28.1 | - | - |
| 2014 | 27.7 | 25.9 | 28.5 | - | - |
| 2013 | 26.1 | 23.8 | 26.5 | - | - |
| 2012 | 24.6 | 21.4 | 24,2 | - | - |
| 2011 | 23.5 | 21.3 | 23.5 | - | - |
| 2010 | 22.5 | 21.3 | 23.5 | - | - |
| 2009 | 24.0 | 22.6 | 25.6 | - | - |
| 2008 | 24.6 | 26.8 | 25.8 | - | - |
| 2007 | 25.4 | 29.7 | 25.9 | - | - |
| 2006 | 28.7 | 29.7 | 28.0 | - | - |
This State of Healthcare Quality Report classifies health plans differently than NCQA’s Quality Compass. HMO corresponds to All LOBs (excluding PPO and EPO) within Quality Compass. PPO corresponds to PPO and EPO within Quality Compass.
Figures do not account for changes in the underlying measure that could break trending. Contact Information Products via my.ncqa.org for analysis that accounts for trend breaks.
References
- Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. 201. “Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States.” https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest-threats.html