NUWAY® today announced that its programs have been named Blue Distinction® Centers for Substance Use Treatment and Recovery by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. NUWAY’s facilities in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, and Rochester, are among the first to receive the designation under the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program that is designed to help patients living with a substance use disorder find facilities that deliver quality treatment and care.
Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated facilities that show a commitment to delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, which highlights the seriousness of the opioid epidemic and how critical it is for patients to receive comprehensive, meaningful care. The BDC Substance Use Treatment and Recovery program requires designated facilities to deliver coordinated multidisciplinary care to patients and provide timely access to quality medical and psychosocial care in all phases of treatment. Designated facilities must also offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) – a way to treat opioid addiction that includes a medication component and behavioral therapy.
“NUWAY is thrilled and thankful to be recognized as a Blue Distinction provider. This designation substantiates NUWAY’s commitment to supporting the work and growth of the highly skilled clinicians, managers, and support team members who carry out our nonprofit mission by delivering exceptional and innovative care to people with low recovery capital who need extended time in treatment to build a solid foundation for their recovery journey. This affirmation serves as an indicator of trust that can help people feel more comfortable about seeking treatment, and sends a clear message to our valued clients, employees, colleagues, and partners, that NUWAY takes quality to heart,” says NUWAY Chief Community Relations Officer, Monique Bourgeois.
“This designation shows dedication to evidence-based treatment options,” said Dr. Mark Steffen, chief medical officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “Blue Distinction Specialty Care providers demonstrate better quality overall, including 27 percent lower readmission rates 90 days after treatment when compared to providers who have not earned the designation.”
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, gene therapy, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the care they deliver. Research for many programs shows that, compared to other providers, those designated as Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients.
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
