PINEHURST, N.C.—The Metabolic & Weight Management Center is proud to be recognized by Blue Cross Blue Sheild of North Carolina with a Blue Distinction Center+ (BDC+) designation under the Blue Distinction® Centers for Bariatric Surgery program.
This program focuses on improving outcomes and guides adult and adolescent members to hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers that meet quality and safety standards for common weight-loss procedures, including laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and primary laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. BDC+ designated facilities have demonstrated expertise in patient safety, deliver better health outcomes, and were also more cost-effective for bariatric procedures.
General and bariatric surgeons with Pinehurst Surgical Clinic and the Metabolic & Weight Management Center, David Grantham, M.D., and Raymond Washington, M.D., have spearheaded the success of the longstanding bariatric surgery program.
"Earning the Blue Distinction Center+ redesignation reflects the commitment our entire team has made to delivering safe, evidence-based bariatric care and achieving excellent patient outcomes,” said Grantham. “Weight-loss surgery is about far more than losing pounds. It can help people regain their health, reduce or even resolve chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, and improve their quality of life. This recognition gives patients confidence that they are choosing a program that meets rigorous standards for quality and patient-centered care.”
Washington added, “This redesignation recognizes the comprehensive approach we take to bariatric care. From the first consultation through surgery and long-term follow-up care, successful weight-loss surgery requires more than an operation. It takes education, support and a multidisciplinary team that is invested in each patient’s long-term success. We’re proud that our program has earned this recognition and grateful for the trust our patients place in us.”
To receive this designation, facilities must participate in Blue Cross Blue Sheild of North Carolina BlueCard Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network and must be accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). MBSAQIP sets rigorous safety and quality standards, requires facilities to track outcomes over time, and confirms the expertise needed to perform weight-loss surgery safely.
All facilities designated under the Blue Distinction Centers for Bariatric Surgery program have proven that they deliver higher-quality care under MBSAQIP’s objective standards for bariatric procedures. On average, BDC+ designated facilities have 37% fewer total (overall) and 49% fewer severe (life-threatening) complications for laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy[1], and 14% fewer total and 20% fewer severe complications for gastric bypass1 compared to non-MBSAQIP-accredited facilities.
In addition to demonstrating higher-quality care, those facilities receiving the BDC+ designation also achieved 25% average cost savings1 for bariatric procedures compared to all other non-designated facilities.
By meeting these criteria, the Metabolic & Weight Management Center demonstrated a strong commitment to higher-quality and affordable care and remains at the forefront of bariatric surgery advancement.
Members treated at designated facilities benefit from specialized expertise and advanced practices that lead to improved recovery times and reduced complications, enhancing their overall health journey.
While bariatric surgery can be an important step toward better health, long-term outcomes also depend on healthy lifestyle habits such as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, behavioral support, and close collaboration with specialists to help members adhere to recommended treatments and medications.
Since 2005, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped members 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 Blue Distinction program and for a complete listing of the designated providers, visit our website.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), the leading not-for-profit health plan in North Carolina, is committed to improving the health and well-being of its customers and communities. Since 1933, the company has developed programs and initiatives that give North Carolinians the opportunity to live healthier lives. Blue Cross NC serves more than 4.1 million members, including approximately 1.2 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at www.bluecrossnc.com.
About the Blue Cross 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 healthcare. 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 www.bcbs.com. 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.
[1] Based on the 2026 BDC for Bariatric Surgery designation evaluations.
