Three substance abuse treatment and recovery centers in Central Massachusetts have been included in a new mark of distinction by the insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, New England Recovery Center in Westborough, and Washburn House in Worcester were among six statewide to receive Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Blue Distinction, a new designation for specialty care centers the insurer announced Wednesday.
Such centers are recognized by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association as facilities showing a commitment to delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures developed with input from the community and leading accreditation and quality organizations, the company said. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation of 36 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.
The Blue Distinction program is meant to help patients find trusted centers. Blue Cross Blue Shield cited the state’s opioid epidemic in Wednesday’s announcement, which has killed more than 2,000 state residents in each of the past four years.
