It　is　well　known　that　the　feedback　mechanism　or　the　individual’s　intuitive　response　to　the　epidemic　can　have　a　vital　effect　on　the　disease’s　spreading.　In　this　paper,　we　investigate　the　bifurcation　behavior　and　the　optimal　feedback　mechanism　for　an　SIS　epidemic　model　on　heterogeneous　networks.　Firstly,　we　present　the　bifurcation　analysis　when　the　basic　reproduction　number　is　equal　to　unity.　The　direction　of　bifurcation　is　also　determined.　Secondly,　different　from　the　constant　coefficient　in　the　existing　literature,　we　incorporate　a　time-varying　feedback　mechanism　coefficient.　This　is　more　reasonable　since　the　initiative　response　of　people　is　constantly　changing　during　different　process　of　disease　prevalence.　We　analyze　the　optimal　feedback　mechanism　for　the　SIS　epidemic　network　model　by　applying　the　optimal　control　theory.　The　existence　and　uniqueness　of　the　optimal　control　strategy　are　obtained.　Finally,　a　numerical　example　is　presented　to　verify　the　efficiency　of　the　obtained　results.　How　the　topology　of　the　network　affects　the　optimal　feedback　mechanism　is　also　discussed.　©　2019,　The　Author(s).