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Blue Distinction Specialty Care

The Blue Distinction® program is a national centers of excellence program recognizing health care facilities and / or providers.
How can Blue Distinction help you?

Whether you're a member, an employer, or a provider, the Blue Distinction program highlights facilities that have shown fewer complications and readmissions.

Members

Find the top-rated, most affordable specialty care.

Employers

Guide your employees to better care options at a lower cost.

Providers

Be recognized for practice quality, outcomes, and cost.
What is the Blue Distinction program?

Blue Distinction Specialty Care is a national centers of excellence program recognizing health care facilities and/or providers with a proven track record for exceptional specialized care and better patient outcomes.

To earn a Blue Distinction designation, providers and / or facilities must meet strict, pre-determined quality standards developed by medical experts and providers. This national evaluation criteria makes it easy for patients to choose quality-focused specialty treatment.

 
Providers with exceptional specialized experience
Highest level of patient support at all stages of treatment
Fewer complications and better outcomes after treatment
20–34% average cost savings on specialty procedures
Types of Blue Distinction Specialty Care

The program includes two levels of designation:

Blue Distinction Center – quality care, treatment expertise, and better overall patient results

Blue Distinction Centers+ – more affordable care in addition to quality care, treatment expertise, and better overall patient results

The Blue Distinction program recognizes centers that deliver care in several crucial specialty care areas:

  • Knee and hip replacement
  • Bariatric surgery
  • Cardiac care
  • Transplants
  • Spine surgery
  • Maternity care
  • Substance use treatment and recovery
How is eligibility for each specialty determined?

Review the selection criteria for each area of specialty care on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association website to see how providers qualify for the designation.
Review Selection Criteria