The New England Recovery Center Designated as a Blue Distinction® Center for Substance Use Treatment and Recovery

To help individuals suffering from a substance use disorder find facilities that deliver quality treatment and care, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) recognizes the New England Recovery Center (NERC) as one of the first facilities in the state to receive the Blue Distinction® Center for Substance Use Treatment and Recovery designation.

Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated facilities that show 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.

“We’re honored to have been chosen as a Blue Distinction Center by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts,” said Kurt Isaacson, president and CEO of Spectrum Health Systems and the New England Recovery Center. “We’re no strangers to the public health crisis at hand. With over 50 years of experience, we’re dedicated to providing a comprehensive continuum of care that extends from detoxification to after care. Every client who walks in the door receives a personalized plan of care based on individual needs and preferences.”

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 individuals to receive comprehensive, meaningful care. The Blue Distinction Center Substance Use Treatment and Recovery program requires designated facilities to provide coordinated multidisciplinary care and 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 in conjunction with behavioral therapy.

Founded as a subsidiary of Spectrum Health Systems in 2015, the New England Recovery Center provides individualized, client-centered treatment using a variety of interventions such as motivational interviewing, individual and group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment, family engagement, relapse prevention and continuing care planning. NERC’s multifaceted approach and strong commitment to providing efficient, comprehensive care, has earned it this designation.

“Opioid use disorders have cost Massachusetts thousands of lives in the last few years alone,” said Bruce Nash, MD, chief physician executive, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “Substance use disorders have a terrible cost on the individuals, their families and our economy. Improving access to high-quality affordable treatment and recovery facilities is a priority for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and one way we are leading the effort to combat substance use. We are proud these provider partners have been recognized as leaders in treatment and recovery.”

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 designated facilities, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction. For more information about NERC, visit www.newenglandrecoverycenter.org.

About New England Recovery Center
The New England Recovery Center is a subsidiary of Spectrum Health Systems, providing onsite detoxification and inpatient treatment to commercially insured and private pay clients. Spectrum Health Systems Inc. offers a full continuum of evidence-based treatment services including inpatient detoxification, residential rehabilitation, medication-assisted treatment, outpatient counseling and peer recovery support throughout Massachusetts. To learn more, visit www.newenglandrecoverycenter.org.