PROUD TO BE PART OF PRIVIA MEDICAL GROUP
The Great Falls Clinic is a proud member of Privia Medical Group. The best doctors in our community have joined together to form Privia Medical Group (PMG) a multi-specialty, high-performance medical group that puts patients first. Our physicians are united by the mission of providing better, more coordinated care for their patients.
To learn more about Privia Medical Group, click here.
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) Information
CLICK HERE to view and download a pdf of the information below.
Great Falls Clinic has partnered with Privia Medical Group, a network of top physicians. As part of this partnership, we are participating in 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.
Below is a formal notification to inform you that we are part of an ACO. You will notice the memo states we are part of Privia Quality Network Tennessee, LLC. Please note that although we are not located in the state of Tennessee, this is the formal name of the ACO we are a part of and is not an error.
Thank you for the continued opportunity to care for you.
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.
What information will be shared about me?
- Medicare shares information about your care with your health care providers; like dates and times you visited a health care provider, your medical conditions, and a list of past and current prescriptions. This information helps us track the care and tests that you’ve already had.
- Sharing your data helps make sure all the providers involved in your care have access to your health information when and where they need it.
- We value your privacy. ACOs must put important safeguards in place to make sure all your health care information is safe. We respect your choice on how your health care information is used for care coordination and quality improvement. If you want Medicare to share your health care information with us or other ACOs in which your health care providers participate, there’s nothing more you need to do.
- If you don’t want Medicare to share your health care information, call (1-800-633-4227). Tell the representative that your health care provider is part of an ACO and you don’t want Medicare to share your health care information. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
- If you change your mind and want to let Medicare share your health information again, call 1-800-MEDICARE to let Medicare know. We aren’t allowed to tell Medicare for you.
- Even if you decline to share your health care information, Medicare will still use your information for some purposes, like assessing the financial and quality of care performance of the health care providers participating in ACOs. Also, Medicare may share some of your health care information with ACOs when measuring the quality of care given by health care providers participating in those ACOs.
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. You can learn more in the Voluntary Alignment Beneficiary Fact Sheet.
What if I have concerns about being part of an ACO?
- If you have concerns about the quality of care or other services you receive from your ACO or provider, you can contact your Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman who can assist you with Medicare-related questions, concerns, and challenges. The Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman works closely with the Medicare program, including Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, and State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs), to help make sure information and assistance are available for you. Visit Medicare.gov for information on how the Medicare Beneficiary Ombudsman can help you.
- If you suspect Medicare fraud or abuse from your ACO or any Medicare provider, we encourage you to make a report by contacting the HHS Office of Inspector General (1-800-HHS-TIPS) or your local Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP).