Accountable Care Organization
What is a Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO?
The Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO is a program where health care providers who share a common vision of improving your care can work together more effectively by belonging to an ACO. The providers and practices that comprise Atrius Health are voluntarily taking part in this program as we believe it will help in providing better quality care for our Medicare fee-for-service (aka “Original” Medicare) patients. All of the health care providers participating in the Atrius Health Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO have joined with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in committing to your needs and preferences, and to emphasize the coordination of your care.
What Does Our Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO Mean for Beneficiaries?
As a Medicare beneficiary, you still have the right to use any doctor or hospital who accepts Medicare, at any time, even if your Atrius Health medical group provider is part of our Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO. There is no change to your Medicare benefits; a Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO is not a Medicare Advantage plan or an HMO plan. Your providers at the Atrius Health medical groups will continue to recommend doctors or hospitals for your specific health needs, but it is always your choice about which doctors you use or which hospitals you visit. For more information, contact 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit www.medicare.gov.
Annual Wellness Visits
In previous years, some patients whose providers worked with an ACO received a $25 “Coordinated Care Reward” check from Medicare for attending their Annual Wellness Visit. Medicare decided to discontinue this reward payment in 2019. However, Atrius Health still strongly encourages all eligible Medicare beneficiaries to visit us to receive this important service, which Medicare will continue to cover at no out-of-pocket cost. An Annual Wellness Visit is not the same as a physical. It is a special visit that beneficiaries are eligible for once a year to discuss health goals with their provider or the provider’s staff. Such visits have been shown to improve health care for beneficiaries.
About Atrius Health's Participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO
For general information on Medicare ACOs, click here.
You can also find additional information on the Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO Model here. Beneficiaries can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048 for any questions or concerns.