Blue Distinction® Centers
Blue Distinction® CenterBlue Distinction® Center designation is awarded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) to providers that meet quality-focused criteria that emphasize patient safety and outcomes.
Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) designation is awarded to providers that meet the same quality-focused criteria, as well as cost-of-care measures.
The goals of Blue Distinction designation are to:
- Encourage health care professionals to improve the overall quality and delivery of health care, resulting in better overall outcomes for patients.
- Support consumers as they identify the care and treatment that best meets their needs.
The Blue Distinction program recognizes hospitals and provider entities for their distinguished clinical care and processes in the areas of:
- Bariatric Surgery
- Cardiac Care
- Cancer Care
- Cellular Immunotherapy-CAR-T
- Fertility Care
- Gene Therapy-Ocular Disorders
- Maternity Care
- Knee and Hip Replacement
- Spine Surgery
- Transplants
The following New Jersey hospitals and provider entities are recognized by the BCBSA as Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) or Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) in the specialty area(s) indicated.
Bariatric Surgery
Hospital |
Designation |
Designation Date |
Atlanticare Regional Medical Center |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Chilton Medical Center |
BDC+ |
May 2021 |
Cooper University Hospital |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center |
BDC+ |
November 2020 |
Hackensack University Medical Center |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Hackensack UMC at Pascack Valley |
BDC |
May 2022 |
Inspira Medical Center Vineland |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
JFK Medical Center |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Kennedy Memorial Hospital Stratford, NJ |
BDC+ |
November 2020 |
Morristown Medical Center |
BDC+ |
February 2020 |
Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center |
BDC |
January 2018 |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital |
BDC+ |
March 2018 |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital |
BDC+ |
October 2020 |
Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital |
BDC+ |
December 2020 |
The Valley Hospital |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Virtua Memorial Hospital |
BDC+ |
September 2020 |
Virtua-Marlton Hospital |
BDC |
September 2020 |
Cardiac Care
Hospital |
Designation |
Designation Date |
Atlanticare Regional Medical Center |
BDC |
January 2019 |
Cooper University Hospital |
BDC+ |
January 2019 |
Morristown Medical Center |
BDC+ |
March 2019 |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital |
BDC+ |
March 2019 |
The Valley Hospital |
BDC+ |
January 2019 |
Cancer Care
Provider Entity |
Designation* |
Designation Date |
BDC |
May 2018 |
|
BDC |
May 2018 |
|
BDC |
May 2018 |
|
Hackensack University Medical Center - Hackensack Meridian Healthcare |
BDC |
May 2018 |
BDC |
May 2018 |
|
BDC |
May 2018 |
* Because the BCBSA is not measuring actual cost of cancer care on a national basis at this time BDC+ designation is not available as part of the Cancer Care program.
Cellular Immunotherapy – CAR-T
Hospital |
Designation |
Designation Date |
Hackensack University Medical Center |
BDC |
May 2021 |
Fertility Care
Provider Entity |
Designation* |
Designation Date |
BDC+ |
January 2019 |
|
BDC |
January 2019 |
|
BDC+ |
January 2019 |
|
BDC+ |
January 2019 |
|
Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science, Saint Barnabas Medical Center |
BDC |
January 2019 |
BDC |
January 2019 |
|
BDC |
January 2019 |
|
BDC+ |
January 2019 |
Knee and Hip Replacement
Hospital | Designation | Designation Date |
Atlanticare Regional Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
Chilton Medical Center | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Hackensack University Medical Center | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Hunterdon Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
Inspira Medical Center Elmer | BDC | January 2020 |
Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill | BDC | January 2020 |
Jersey City Medical Center | BDC | October 2020 |
Jersey Shore University Medical Center | BDC+ | January 2020 |
JFK Medical Center | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Morristown Medical Center | BDC+ | December 2020 |
Newton Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
Ocean Medical Center | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Overlook Medical Center | BDC+ | May 2020 |
Raritan Bay Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
Riverview Medical Center | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Southern Ocean Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Virtua Memorial Hospital | BDC | January 2020 |
Virtua Marlton Hospital | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Virtua Voorhees Hospital | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Maternity Care
Hospital |
Designation |
Designation Date |
Capital Health Medical Center Hopewell |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Centra State Medical Center |
BDC+ |
November 2020 |
Chilton Medical Center |
BDC+ |
November 2020 |
Cooper University Hospital |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center |
BDC+ |
December 2020 |
Hackensack University Medical Center - Mountainside |
BDC |
November 2020 |
Hackensack University Medical Center - Palisades |
BDC |
November 2020 |
Hunterdon Medical Center |
BDC |
January 2018 |
Inspira Medical Center Elmer |
BDC |
January 2018 |
Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill |
BDC |
January 2018 |
Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill |
BDC |
January 2018 |
Jersey Shore University Medical Center |
BDC |
November 2020 |
Kennedy Memorial Hospital |
BDC |
January 2018 |
Morristown Medical Center |
BDC+ |
November 2020 |
Newton Medical Center |
BDC+ |
November 2020 |
Ocean Medical Center |
BDC |
November 2020 |
Overlook Medical Center |
BDC+ |
November 2020 |
Riverview Medical Center |
BDC |
November 2020 |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital - Somerset |
BDC+ |
November 2020 |
University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro |
BDC+ |
January 2018 |
Virtua Marlton Hospital |
BDC |
January 2018 |
Virtua Memorial Hospital |
BDC |
January 2018 |
Spine Surgery
Hospital | Designation | Designation Date |
Hackensack University Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
Jersey Shore University Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
Ocean Medical Center | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Riverview Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
Virtua-Memorial Hospital | BDC+ | January 2020 |
Substance Use Treatment and Recovery
Facility | Designation* | Designation Date |
Hoboken University Medical Center | BDC | January 2020 |
Stress Care of New Jersey - Matawan | BDC | January 2020 |
Summit Oaks Hospital | BDC | January 2020 |
Transplants
The Blue Distinction Centers for Transplants are designated facilities across the nation that meet stringent quality criteria established by national organizations and expert clinician panels.
Physicians referring a Horizon BCBSNJ member for a transplant should call us for information about participating local and national transplant facilities. Dedicated case management is available to help you and your patient. For more information, call 1-888-621-5894, ext.46404.
CMS requires that Medicare and Medicare Advantage members must receive transplant- related services only at Medicare-approved transplant facilities.
Hospital |
Designation |
Designation Date |
Hackensack University Medical Center |
BDC for Adult Bone Marrow/Stem Cell |
January 2022 |
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital |
BDC for Adult Kidney (Live & Deceased Donor) |
October 2022 |