Blue Distinction

Blue Distinction^® is a designation awarded by 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 objective selection criteria established with input from expert physicians and medical organizations. Its goal is to help members find quality specialty care while enabling and encouraging health care professionals to improve the overall quality and delivery of care nationwide.

The criteria used to select Blue Distinction Centers are made available to the public. This allows both members and providers to understand what’s behind this quality designation. Our goals are:

• To encourage providers to improve the overall quality and delivery of health care, resulting in better overall outcomes for patients.
• To support members as they identify medical facilities that best meet their needs.

There are six core areas of clinical care and processes under the Blue Distinction designation:

• Bariatric surgery.
• Cardiac care.
• Complex and rare cancers.
• Knee and hip replacements.
• Spine surgery.
• Transplants.

Hawaii’s Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care:

• Castle Medical Center:
  • Bariatric surgery.
  • Knee and hip replacement.
• The Queen’s Medical Center:
  • Bariatric surgery.
  • Cardiac care.
  • Spine surgery.
• Straub Clinic & Hospital:
  • Cardiac care.

Note: Designation as Blue Distinction Centers means these facilities’ overall experience and aggregate data met objective criteria established in collaboration with expert clinicians’ and leading professional organizations’ recommendations. Individual outcomes may vary. Please call HMSA to find out which services are covered under your policy at any facility; call your provider before making an appointment to verify the most current information on their Network participation and Blue Distinction status. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any of its licensees are responsible for any damages, losses, or non-covered charges that may result from using this website or receiving care from a provider listed in this website.

Blue Distinction Website

Blue Distinction Center Finder