Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic is participating in OnBelay, an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). An ACO is a group of doctors, hospitals, and/or other health care providers that work together to improve the quality and experience of care you receive.
Prairie Lakes Brown Clinic's participation in an Accountable Care Organization doesn't limit your choice of health care providers. Your Medicare benefits are not changing. You still have the right to visit any doctor, hospital, or other provider that accepts Medicare at any time, just like you do now
How do ACOs work?
An ACO isn't a Medicare Advantage plan which is an "all in one" alternative to Original Medicare, offered by private companies approved by Medicare. An ACO isn't an HMO plan, or an insurance plan of any kind.
ACOs have agreements with Medicare to be financially accountable for the quality, cost, and experience of care you receive.
Coordinated care can avoid wasted time and costs for repeated tests and unneeded appointments. It may make it easier to spot potential problems before they become more serious - like drug interactions that can happen if one doctor isn't aware of what another has prescribed.
ACOs may use electronic health records, case managers, and electronic prescriptions to help you stay healthy. Some ACOs have special programs to encourage you to have a primary care visit or use their care management team. Participation in these programs is optional.
How can I Make the Most of Getting Care From an ACO?
Ask your clinician if they have a secure online portal that gives you 24-hour access to your personal health information, including lab results and provider recommendations. This will help you make informed decisions about your health care, track your treatment, and monitor your health outcomes.
As a Medicare beneficiary, you can choose or change your primary clinician or "main doctor" at any time. Your primary clinician is the health care provider that you believe is responsible for coordinating your overall care. If you choose a primary clinician, that clinician may have more tools or services to help with your care.
Click below to review Beneficiary Information Notice: