Blue Distinction is a national designation program, developed in collaboration with the medical community to recognize those facilities that demonstrate expertise in delivering quality specialty care — safely, efficiently, and cost effectively. Blue Distinction Centers are a key part of Blue Plans’ efforts to collaborate with physicians and facilities to improve the overall quality, and resulting affordability, of specialty care.
The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care® program is evolving from a quality-focused designation to a more robust, value-based designation that will recognize those facilities that demonstrate expertise in delivering quality specialty care — safely, but also efficiently, and cost effectively.
The value-based designation is awarded to facilities that meet stringent quality measures, focused on patient safety and outcomes, as well as cost-of-care criteria, which will further differentiate Blue Distinction Centers from other facilities. This may result in a fewer number of facilities who are able to maintain their designation.
For more information about the Blue Distinction program, read the complete article in the March edition of Partners in Health UpdateSM.