Blue Distinction Centers

Blue Distinction is a national program that recognizes hospitals for their expertise in performing certain types of surgeries or specialty care. The national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association offers this program, and the local Blue Cross plan gives the designations to hospitals and medical facilities if they demonstrate they are delivering high-quality, efficient, value-based, patient-centered care. 

There are two categories:

1. Blue Distinction® Centers – this recognizes hospitals for their expertise in delivering quality specialty care.
2. Blue Distinction® Centers+ -- this recognizes hospitals that are meeting the Blue Distinction quality criteria and are keeping costs under control.  

The standards for Blue Distinction recognition are on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s webpage.

Hospitals/medical facilities can earn Blue Distinction recognition for these types of surgeries and specialty care:

• Bariatric Surgery(Gastric Banding and Gastric Stapling)
• Cancer Care
• Cardiac Care
• Cellular Immunotherapy (CAR-T)
• Fertility Care
• Gene Therapy (Ocular Disorders)
• Knee and Hip Replacement
• Maternity Care
• Spine Surgery
• Substance Use Treatment and Recovery
• Transplant (Bone Marrow/Solid Organ)

In Louisiana, there are many hospitals that have earned Blue Distinction recognition, including many of the major health systems in the state. See the list of Louisiana’s Blue Distinction centers.

How do I know if a hospital has Blue Distinction recognition?
When you are looking for a hospital in our Find a Doctor/Hospital directory, the ones that are Blue Distinction Centers or Blue Distinction Centers+ have the program logos next to their names.

When a hospital gets Blue Distinction recognition, Blue Cross  gives the hospital materials to do banners or posters that say the hospital is a Blue Distinction Center. You may see this in a hospital’s ads or commercials, too.

You can ask your doctor for help finding a Blue Distinction Center if you are not sure whether a hospital is one.

List of Blue Distinction Centers in Louisiana