In an effort to help prospective parents find hospitals that deliver quality, affordable maternity care, Manatee Memorial Hospital announced that Florida Blue has designated it as one of the first hospitals to receive the Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care, a new appointment under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. “Manatee Memorial Hospital is proud to be one of the first hospitals to receive this new distinction from Florida Blue. Our Family Birthplace staff is dedicated to giving quality care to all new moms and our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is ready to help with babies that need extra care,” said Kevin DiLallo, CEO, Manatee Healthcare System. Nearly four million babies are born in the U.S. annually, making childbirth the most common cause of hospitalization. The new Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care program evaluates hospitals on several quality measures. In addition, hospitals that receive a Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care designation have agreed to meet requirements that align with principles that support evidence-based practices of care.