Accountable Care Organizations Can Save Time and Money

An accountable care organization (ACO) is a group of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers who accept original Medicare and work together to coordinate your healthcare.

Working as part of an ACO helps your doctors and other healthcare providers understand your health history and talk to one another about your care and needs. This may save you time, money, and frustration by avoiding repeated tests and appointments. More coordination also helps prevent medical errors and unexpected drug interactions that may happen if one provider isn’t aware of what another has prescribed you.

Just remember that an ACO won’t limit your choice of healthcare providers. If your doctor or other provider is part of an ACO, you still have the right to visit any doctor, hospital, or other provider that takes Medicare at any time.

If you have questions about Medicare changes or you need help with the costs of your medications, please call the DeKalb County Council on Aging at 256-845-8590 and ask for Lynn Hixon or DiAnne Callahan. They are ready to assist you.