Blue Distinction Specialty Care

Quick reference guide

What is Blue Distinction Specialty Care?

• Facilities that have received national designation by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association for their expertise in delivering quality specialty care safely, effectively, and cost-efficiently.
• The goal of Blue Distinction Specialty Care is to help consumers find quality and value for their specialty care needs.

Blue Distinction Specialty Care includes two designation levels

• Blue Distinction Centers: Healthcare providers recognized for expertise in delivering specialty care.
• Blue Distinction Centers+: Healthcare providers recognized for expertise and cost-efficiency in delivering specialty care.

Blue Distinction Specialty Care has 10 high-impact areas of specialty care:

• Bariatric surgery
• Cancer care
• Cardiac care
• Cellular immunotherapy
• Fertility care
• Knee and hip replacement
• Maternity care
• Spine surgery
• Substance use treatment and recovery
• Transplants

The Blue Distinction Specialty Care difference

• Accessible to members in the top 100 MSAs, 48 states, and the District of Columbia, Blue Distinction Specialty Care providers demonstrate proven expertise in delivering high quality, cost-effective specialty care.
• Program criteria evolves and designations are refreshed periodically to provide quality and cost differentiation to members, employers, and providers.
• The designations are differentiated in the National Doctor & Hospital Finder, on the Blue Cross Blue Shield website.

Provider responsibilities

Capital Blue Cross and other Blue Plans offer benefit options that lower cost share for members who utilize Blue Distinction Centers.

• Always ask to see the members’ ID card.
• Verify eligibility, benefits, and preauthorization at 1.800.676.BLUE(2583) or via our Provider Portal.
• Submit claims electronically to us.
• Access our Provider Portal to check claim status.
• When medically appropriate, consider referring members to a Blue Distinction Specialty Care provider.