An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a group of doctors and other healthcare providers who agree to work together with Medicare to give Medicare Fee-For-Service Beneficiaries higher quality care.

An ACO isn’t the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Medicare beneficiaries are still in Original Medicare, and their Medicare benefits, services, rights and protections won’t change. Medicare beneficiaries still have the right to use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare at any time, the same as they do now.

ACO Link at CMS.gov:  https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/ACO/

The Next Generation ACO Model is an initiative for ACOs that are experienced in coordinating care for populations of patients.  This allows provider groups with Primaria ACO to assume higher levels of financial risk and reward than are available under the current Medicare Shared Savings Program. The goal of the Next Generation ACO Model is to test whether strong financial incentives for ACOs, coupled with tools to support improved patient engagement and care coordination, can improve health outcomes and lower expenditures for Original Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries. Patients who receive coordinated care often stay healthier, have fewer complications, and require fewer hospitalizations. More information can be found at the links below.

NGACO Link at CMS.gov:  https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/Next-Generation-ACO-Model/

FAQ Link at CMS.gov:  https://innovation.cms.gov/Files/x/nextgenacofaq.pdf

The Primaria ACO was created on May 18, 2016 and began its collective work on January 1, 2017.  The Primaria ACO combines the expertise of  numerous health care professionals and health care organizations with the goal to create healthier outcomes for our patients while reducing their burden of care and costs.  Primaria Health LLC, is a Delaware Limited Liability Company created by combining the talents of Community Health Network, Inc.; Village Practice Management Company, Inc. and Sellcore, Inc.  Primaria ACO does not have any joint ventures between or among the ACO and any Next Generation ACO Participants and Preferred Providers.