·     University of Michigan was also designated for gastric cancer and acute leukemia

Complex and rare cancers comprise approximately 15 percent of new cancer cases each year, making it challenging for patients to locate or research facilities with oncologists or surgical teams that are experienced in treating these specific malignancies.

"Blue Distinction seeks to support consumers as they identify medical facilities that best meet their needs and ultimately help improve care for our members," said Robert Milewski, senior vice president of contracting and hospital relations for BCBSM. "This program is a national association initiative includes Blue Cross plans across the country."

"This program is part of our ongoing efforts to raise the overall quality of health care and how we can collaborate with leading hospitals and physicians to deliver care based on objective, evidence-based criteria," said Douglas R. Woll, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of Blue Care Network.

Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers were developed in strategic collaboration with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) input from a panel of leading clinicians and professional organizations. (While not formally endorsing the designation, NCCN provided input and information.) The designation is based on rigorous, evidence-based selection criteria established in collaboration with leading clinicians, medical societies and professional organizations.The designation is focused primarily on multidisciplinary treatment planning and complex, major surgical treatments.

With this expansion of Blue Distinction centers, there are a total 780 Blue Distinction Centers nationwide in the areas of rare and complex cancers, cardiac care, transplants and bariatric surgery, including 25 Blue Distinction Centers in Michigan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.6 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. The company offers a broad variety of plans including: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred, Community Blue and Healthy Blue Incentives PPOs; Blue Care Network HMO; BCN Healthy Blue Living; Flexible Blue plans compatible with health savings accounts; Medicare Advantage Part D Prescription Drug plans, and MyBlue products in the under-age-65 individual market. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for more than 100 million individuals – one-in-three Americans.

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.To find out which services are covered under your policy at any facilities, please call your local Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan; and call your provider before making an appointment, to verify the most current information on their Network participation 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 a provider listed as a Blue Distinction Center.

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