Blue Distinction Center

Blue Distinction is a designation awarded by Blue Cross NC and other Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality health care. The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with expert physicians and medical organizations. The goals are to raise the quality of care delivered nationwide and to help consumers find specialty care at facilities proven to have delivered better overall outcomes.

You can find participating Blue Distinction Center facilities by following these instructions:

Visit our Find Care page and select "Look up a Doctor or Drug"
Log in to Blue Connect or browse as a guest
Select "Doctor or facility"
Search for a facility type
The search results will note which providers participate in Blue Distinction Center programs

Facilities are required to meet strict standards set by the medical community to earn the Blue Distinction name. Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies are committed to making this information easy to find and understand. Visit the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association website to learn more.

No. These programs focus on identifying (and recognizing) what it takes for health care facilities to deliver better outcomes for specific types of specialty care.

Selection criteria are unique for each Blue Distinction program, reflecting that particular area of specialized care. Understandably, a facility with proven expertise in one specialty area may or may not meet thresholds in other areas (for example, a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery may not necessarily meet the selection criteria for becoming a Blue Distinction Center for Complex and Rare Cancers). A facility that has been designated a Blue Distinction Center in multiple areas of care has met our detailed criteria in each area.

Some hospitals don't treat sufficient volumes for the specific specialty type, so they cannot be considered for the program. This program is also voluntary, so facilities that did not apply for consideration during the application cycle are not eligible to be designated as Blue Distinction Centers until they apply during a subsequent cycle.

All facilities must reapply for the designation on a regular basis (typically every 18 - 36 months) to help maintain consistent quality among facilities that have earned the Blue Distinction designation. The purpose of this process is to confirm that Blue Distinction designated facilities continue to meet the selection criteria. Requirements for ongoing participation as a Blue Distinction Center may evolve as the programs matures, but generally includes evaluation of quality indicators in the areas of structure, processes and outcomes.

Services received at facilities without a Blue Distinction Center designation may be covered under the terms of your benefits. Out-of-pocket costs may be higher if you receive care at a facility outside of the Blue Cross NC network. To find out which services and costs are covered under your policy for any facility, please call the Customer Service number on your Member ID card.

The Blue Distinction Center designation focuses solely on facilities' procedures and the outcomes, which are a result of the performance for all physicians who perform these procedures at the facility.

That facility would no longer be part of the Blue Cross NC network or the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association network and would no longer be considered a Blue Distinction Center.

Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery are designated facilities within the participating Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina network that offer comprehensive bariatric surgery services for the purpose of weight loss.