An ACO is NOT a Medicare Advantage Plan, which is an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare, offered by private companies approved by Medicare. An ACO is NOT an HMO plan, or an insurance plan of any kind.

Only people with Original Medicare can be assigned to LTC ACO. You can’t be assigned to LTC ACO if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or a Preferred Provider Organization). You may be assigned to LTC ACO if your primary care clinician in the LTC Facility participates in LTC ACO.

Doctors who choose to participate in LTC ACO must display a poster that notifies you of your doctor’s participation in the ACO. This poster is found in a common area of the long-term care facility. The poster also informs you of your option to decline sharing your healthcare information by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.

Medicare beneficiaries assigned to LTC ACO will also receive an annual beneficiary notice via regular mail.

If you aren’t sure if your doctor is participating in LTC ACO, ask him or her during your visit. For general information about ACOs, call  1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

When your healthcare provider participates in an ACO, you should see better, more coordinated care over time. With LTC ACO, you’re the center of care, and your satisfaction is one of our goals. Over time, you may notice the following:

You’ll continue to have the same rights all people with Medicare get. To help you to get the best coordinated and highest quality care, Medicare will share certain information about your medical care with your doctor’s ACO, including medical conditions, prescriptions, and visits to the doctor unless you have called 1-800-MEDICARE to tell Medicare not to share your healthcare information with your doctor’s ACO or other ACOs. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. This information is important to help LTC ACO keep up with your medical needs and track how well LTC ACO is doing to keep you healthy.

Also, you may get a follow-up survey to ask about your experiences as a patient of a doctor who’s participating in LTC ACO. You’ll get a letter to let you know the survey is genuine. LTC ACO will use your feedback to help make sure you get high-quality care.

LTC ACO is required to respect your privacy so you have the option to tell us not to share your healthcare information. You must call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to tell Medicare not to share information about your care with LTC ACO or any other ACO. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. Unless you take this step, your medical information will be shared with LTC ACO for purposes of care coordination and quality improvement.

Yes, your medical information will be protected. Federal law protects the privacy and security of your medical information. The group of doctors and other healthcare providers in LTC ACO working together on your behalf will be able to read your medical records, along with other office staff authorized to help coordinate your care. Each of your healthcare providers won’t only know about the health issues that they’ve treated; they’ll have a more complete picture of your health by sharing information with your other healthcare providers. Contact the LTC ACO at 1-800-906-8382 for more information about how we protect your medical information or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) to learn more about how Medicare protects your medical information.

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