Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Recognizes Ascension Via Christi for Higher-quality Knee and Hip Replacements Through Blue Distinction Specialty Care Program

04/06/2026

Ascension Via Christi in Wichita has been designated as a Blue Distinction^® Center (BDC) for Knee and Hip Replacements by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) as part of the Blue Distinction® Specialty Care program.

Blue Distinction Center Specialty Programs identify hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) that demonstrate expertise in patient safety, deliver better health outcomes, and are more cost-effective. Quality assessments are based on objective measures developed from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s (BCBSA) partnership with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

"The dedication of our provider partners to ensuring patients receive exceptional care is truly commendable," said Matt All, president/CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. "Each facility recognized as a Blue Distinction Center meets stringent quality standards across all aspects of spine surgery or knee and hip replacements, thereby delivering superior care to our members and all Kansans."

Facilities designated under the Knee and Hip Replacement program demonstrate higher-quality care compared to non-Blue Distinction Center facilities, with an average of 21% fewer readmissions and 21% fewer complications within 90 days of knee and hip replacement surgery.

Patients treated at designated facilities benefit from the expertise and advanced practices that lead to improved recovery times and reduced complications making a positive difference in their overall health journey.

About the Program

The Blue Distinction Center program helps consumers find both quality and value for their specialty care needs, while also encouraging health care professionals to improve the overall delivery of care nationwide.

Only providers that meet nationally established quality measures will be considered for designation as both a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, which include:

Knee and Hip Replacement

Full accreditation by at least one of the national accrediting organizations as either a hospital or ambulatory surgery center (ASC)
Low complication, mortality and unplanned readmission rates within 90 days after elective primary total knee and hip replacements
Have enhanced recovery after surgery processes and procedures in place for quality perioperative care
Participation in BCBSKS BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Network

To further improve patient outcomes and inform treatment strategies in these specialty care areas, BCBSA utilized the AAOS and the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) for more evidence-based measures and patient reported outcome measures.

Since 2005, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care — and, for those that meet the program’s cost criteria, at lower costs — in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, cellular immunotherapy, fertility care, knee and hip replacement, maternity care, spine surgery, substance use treatment and recovery, and transplants, while encouraging health care professionals to improve the quality of care they deliver.

For more information about the program and a complete listing of the designated providers, visit the Blue Distinction® Specialty Care program.

All companies and trademarks listed above are the property of their respective owners and used for identification purposes only, and are in no way associated or affiliated with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Use of these trademarks does not imply endorsement. The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® names and symbols and Blue Distinction® are registered trademarks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

For more than 80 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas has built a reputation of trust with its members and contracting providers by providing outstanding customer service while quickly and accurately processing claims; fairly administering benefit plans and contracts; offering programs, services and tools to help members improve or maintain their health; and operating under the highest ethical standards while being good stewards of premium dollars. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and is the state’s largest insurer, serving all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. For more information, visit Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans.

About Blue Distinction Centers

Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable health care. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for noncovered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.