Franciscan Health Lafayette East Family Birth Center Receives Blue Distinction Plus Recognition
2/18/2026
LAFAYETTE, Indiana - The Family Birth Center at Franciscan Health Lafayette East has been recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Centers Plus for Maternity Care as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
Blue Distinction Plus is a Blue Cross Blue Shield designation, recognizing hospitals that provide high-quality, safe, effective, and more affordable maternity care for births, focusing on better outcomes, such as fewer elective deliveries and lower C-sections, while also addressing maternal health equity.
The program plays a key role in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association's National Health Equity Strategy aimed at reducing racial health disparities across the care spectrum and improving patient outcomes for all Americans. To align with this strategy, the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program enhanced its quality and measurement standards to recognize higher-quality facilities that have taken action to respond effectively to obstetric emergencies, reduce racial disparities, and improve maternal health outcomes.
“Receiving this recognition means quite a bit to our team in Lafayette,” said Marcia Cherry, director of the Women’s Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Care Center at Franciscan Health Lafayette East. “Mothers and their families can rest easy, knowing the outstanding maternal and fetal care that we provide. Our team is passionate about the mothers and babies we serve and this distinction validates all their hard work and dedication.”
The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program's selection criteria were devised to close clinical care gaps and reduce inequities that persist throughout the maternal care spectrum. The selection criteria include components of Blue Cross Blue Shield America Maternal Health Equity Actions, which dismantle the cultural, operational and structural barriers that have created inequities that persist in maternal care.
To be designated under this program, each applicant facility was evaluated on a combination of objective data on patient outcomes as well as the practices implemented to reduce racial disparities and improve maternal health outcomes.
A select group of birth centers receive this distinction, which puts Franciscan Health Lafayette East among the upper echelon of hospitals across the country.
Learn more about Franciscan Health Lafayette East.
Blue Distinction Plus is a Blue Cross Blue Shield designation, recognizing hospitals that provide high-quality, safe, effective, and more affordable maternity care for births, focusing on better outcomes, such as fewer elective deliveries and lower C-sections, while also addressing maternal health equity.
The program plays a key role in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association's National Health Equity Strategy aimed at reducing racial health disparities across the care spectrum and improving patient outcomes for all Americans. To align with this strategy, the Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program enhanced its quality and measurement standards to recognize higher-quality facilities that have taken action to respond effectively to obstetric emergencies, reduce racial disparities, and improve maternal health outcomes.
“Receiving this recognition means quite a bit to our team in Lafayette,” said Marcia Cherry, director of the Women’s Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Care Center at Franciscan Health Lafayette East. “Mothers and their families can rest easy, knowing the outstanding maternal and fetal care that we provide. Our team is passionate about the mothers and babies we serve and this distinction validates all their hard work and dedication.”
The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care program's selection criteria were devised to close clinical care gaps and reduce inequities that persist throughout the maternal care spectrum. The selection criteria include components of Blue Cross Blue Shield America Maternal Health Equity Actions, which dismantle the cultural, operational and structural barriers that have created inequities that persist in maternal care.
To be designated under this program, each applicant facility was evaluated on a combination of objective data on patient outcomes as well as the practices implemented to reduce racial disparities and improve maternal health outcomes.
A select group of birth centers receive this distinction, which puts Franciscan Health Lafayette East among the upper echelon of hospitals across the country.
Learn more about Franciscan Health Lafayette East.
Media Contact
Tony Veneziano
Media Relations Specialist
Phone: 317-528-7986
Email: Tony.Veneziano@FranciscanAlliance.org