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Blue Distinction Specialty Care

Blue Distinction Specialty Care

Blue Distinction® means better health care and lower costs for your employees and your business.

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.

Types of Blue Distinction Programs


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 members to choose quality-focused specialty treatment. 

The program includes two levels of designation:

Blue Distinction Centers

BDC offer quality care, treatment expertise, and better overall patient results

Blue Distinction Centers+

BDC+ offer affordable care in addition to quality care, treatment expertise, and better overall patient results

To find BDC or BDC+ certified care, you can also use our national list of BDC centers by using our BDC finder or look for the shield icon above in our find care tool. It will only show next to facilities with the BDC and BDC+ distinction. 

Find a Blue Distinction Center
Look up a doctor or drug

Benefits of Blue Distinction

In addition to better outcomes and lower costs, your employees may receive better health plan benefits when they use Blue Distinction-designated facilities:

  • Expert doctors, nurses, and staff with high levels of specialty experience
  • Highest level of patient support at all stages of treatment
  • Fewer complications after treatment
  • Helps make health care more affordable for all

Talk to your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) representative to see if your plan includes lower out-of-pocket costs when using a Blue Distinction Center.

Areas of Specialty Care

Blue Distinction Centers represent a number of specialties:

  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Cancer Care
  • Cardiac Care
  • Cellular Immunotherapy – CAR-T
  • Fertility Care
  • Gene Therapy – Ocular Disorders
  • Knee And Hip Replacement
  • Maternity Care
  • Spine Surgery
  • Substance Abuse Treatment
  • Transplants

Availability may vary depending on your location and your health plan.

Learn more about the Blue Distinction program.
Find out how centers are recognized by reviewing the selection criteria.

See Selection Criteria

Interested in Blue Distinction for your employees?

Call our employer services team for support at 877-237-6275.