Blue Distinction

Blue Distinction^® is a designation awarded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based, objective selection criteria established in collaboration with expert physicians' and medical organizations' recommendations. Its goal is to help consumers find quality specialty care on a consistent basis, while enabling and encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the overall quality and delivery of care nationwide.

At the core of the Blue Distinction program are the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care^®, facilities that we recognize for their distinguished clinical care and processes in the areas of:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Cardiac Care
• Complex and Rare Cancers
• Transplants

Two new Blue Distinction designations will launch in 2009. View more about the Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement^SM and Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery.

The criteria we use to select Blue Distinction Centers^®, determined with input from leading medical organizations and expert physicians and based on medical evidence, are made available to the public. This allows both consumers and providers to understand what's behind this quality designation. Our goals are:

• to encourage providers to improve the overall quality and delivery of healthcare, resulting in better overall outcomes for patients
• to support consumers as they identify medical facilities that best meet their needs

Visit our Blue Distinction Center Finder.

View our Blue Distinction Fact Sheet.

View an overview of our selection criteria.

If you are a physician or hospital administrator interested in learning more or applying for the Blue Distinction designation for your medical facility, please click here.

Note:  Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means that these facilities' overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians' and leading professional organizations’ recommendations.  Individual outcomes may vary.  To find out which services are covered under your policy at these or any other facilities, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan; and please call your provider before making an appointment, to verify the most current information on their Network participation status.  Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any of its Licensees are responsible for any damages, losses, or non-covered charges that may result from using this Web site or receiving care from a provider listed in this Web site.