Advocate Health Care Accountable Care Organization

At Advocate Health Care, we’re dedicated to providing high-quality care to our patients. Advocate Physician Partners
Accountable Care, Inc. – our Accountable Care Organization – partners with Medicare to make sure we’re offering that care 
in a transparent, financially responsible way.

What is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)?

An Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a group of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers who come
together to work with Medicare to ensure you're supported when healthy and receive the care you need when you’re sick.
ACOs are in agreement with Medicare to operate in a financially accountable way in terms of quality, cost of care and the
experience you receive.

Does an ACO change my Medicare benefits?

Your Medicare benefits don’t change if your doctor participates in an ACO. An ACO isn’t an HMO managed care or Medicare
Advantage plan. You'll still have original Medicare (Medicare fee-for-service), and your Medicare services, rights and
protections also haven’t changed. ACOs can’t limit your Medicare benefits or tell you to use certain doctors, clinicians or
hospitals. You're able to choose which doctors or hospitals you visit, though your doctor may offer recommendations based
on quality.

What kind of providers are part of the Advocate ACO?

Advocate has a network of doctors, clinicians, hospitals, outpatient clinics, a homecare company, and skilled nursing facility
partners. Our network includes doctors employed by Advocate and private doctors who have a close relationship with our
hospitals and outpatient services.

How does the Advocate ACO help me?

Advocate has care managers, nurses and social workers to help you and your family with navigating and coordinating your
health care needs. This is called care management or care coordination services.

• If eligible, we provide you and your family with individualized support for the transition home or to your next site of
  care through our Care Transitions Program.
• Upon discharge, you will be provided with a Care Transition Nurse Navigator (Transitions Nurse) and/or a series
  of follow-up phone calls and videos from a service called Emmi to help you navigate your care after you leave
  the hospital. Both services are provided free of charge.
• You may be assigned a care manager to see you in your primary care doctor's office or speak with you on the
  phone.
• Contact Advocate Aurora Health Care Management in Illinois at 847-635-4444.

The value of having a primary care doctor

A primary care doctor (PCP) can help ensure you receive the right care, at the right time and the right place. A PCP can
help you and your family by acting like a quarterback of all health care services. Your PCP can best manage your health
care by providing regular and preventative care and can help keep your health on track. See below on how to find a PCP to
best fit your needs.

Benefits of receiving care from an ACO

With an ACO, you’re at the center of care, and your satisfaction is an important goal. Over time, you may notice:

• Less paperwork: You may not have to fill out as many medical forms that ask for the same information.
• Enhanced communication: Everyone on your care team knows what’s going on with your health because they communicate with each other.
• Fewer tests: You don’t need to repeat medical tests because your results are shared among your health care team.
• More choice: You’re free to choose your own doctor, but staying within the Aurora network can help us provide you with coordinated, high-quality care at a lower cost.

In an ACO, how will my health care records be used?

A valuable part of an ACO is that Medicare shares important health information with participating doctors and clinicians,
including dates and times you visited a doctor or clinician, your medical conditions, and a list of past and current
prescriptions. This information helps your care team to understand what services you’ve received and allows for smooth
transitions between doctors or in and out of the hospital. This is one of the most important benefits of being in an ACO.

What if I don’t want to share my health information?

The privacy and security of your medical information is protected by federal law. You'll continue to get the same rights
enjoyed by all people with Medicare. However, if you don’t want Medicare to share your health care information, call
800-MEDICARE ( 800-633-4227). Tell the representative your doctor is part of an ACO and you don’t want Medicare to
share your health care information. TTY users should call 877-486-2048.

Even if you decline sharing specific health care information, Medicare still uses your information for some purposes, such as
assessing the performance of the doctors and clinicians participating in our ACO.

Who can answer my ACO questions?

• To report a potential compliance or privacy issue, contact the Compliance and Integrity hotline at
  888-847-6331 (toll-free) or submit your concern online at www.advocateaurorahealth.ethicspoint.com.
  (Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and hosted by Navex, a third-party provider.)
• Information you provide through the hotline is confidential and anonymous unless you choose to provide
  your contact information. Whether you choose anonymity or not, you can trust that your voice will be
  heard.
• To speak directly to Medicare, please call 800-MEDICARE. (TTY users should call 877-486-2048.)

Please visit Medicare’s website for more information.

Advocate’s Accountable Care Organization information

To let Medicare know who your primary clinician is, go to MyMedicare.gov and log in or create an account. This video
provides step-by-step instructions.