Update: Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program and new local plan criteria

As you may have read in a column by Bridget Hurd in a previous issue of this newsletter, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will include an unconscious bias education requirement for providers to be designated as a Blue Distinction^® Center for Maternity Care. It’s part of Blue Cross’ health equity strategy, in alignment with efforts by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, to eliminate maternal health disparities. Here are some additional details about the requirement that we promised we’d share.

Beginning in early 2023, as a part of the next designation cycle, all staff performing maternity care services at a BDC for Maternity Care facility will need to participate in unconscious bias education specific to maternal health care.

Blue Distinction Specialty Care is a national designation program, awarded by local Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, recognizing health care providers who demonstrate expertise in delivering quality and affordable health care to meet consumers’ specialty care needs safely, effectively and cost efficiently. This highly respected designation acknowledges the expertise providers have demonstrated — and their commitment to improving quality and affordability. The goal of the program is to help patients find providers who offer quality and value for specialty care needs.

“Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care demonstrate expertise and a commitment to quality care for vaginal and cesarean section deliveries,” said Alina Pabin, director of National Networks and Programs for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Bridget Hurd, Blue Cross vice president, Inclusion and Diversity, added: “Understanding maternal health disparities, including their root causes and potential solutions, is an essential component when delivering maternal health care.”

New criteria
With the implementation of the next BDC Maternity Care designation cycle, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will include new local plan criteria. Each applicant facility must implement measures to increase understanding of maternal health disparities and put programs and practices in place to improve the delivery of maternal care. To be considered eligible for Blue Distinction Maternity Care designation, all staff performing maternity care services at the applicant facility must have completed unconscious bias education through one of the following Blue Cross-approved sessions:

• Awareness to Action: Dismantling Bias in Maternal and Infant Healthcare — provided by the March of Dimes (virtual)
• Unconscious Bias: An Imperative — provided by  Safer Childbirth Cities and Henry Ford Health (virtual)
• Reducing Unconscious Bias — An Imperative — provided by Henry Ford Health (in person and virtual)
• Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Maternal Health Care — provided by Think Cultural Health (virtual)
• Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth — provided by Diversity Science (virtual)

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.