• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Vermont: (802) 879-7133

Attend A Free Workshop
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
    • What to Expect When Working with Us
  • Services
    • Estate Planning
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medicaid Planning & Elder Law
    • Pet Planning
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
    • Young Families Planning
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Burlington
      • Montpelier
      • Rutland
      • St. Johnsbury
      • White River Junction
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Elder Law
        • In-Home Elder Care
        • Medicaid
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
        • Estate and Gift Tax
        • Estate Planning for Blended Families
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Taxes on Inheritances in Vermont
      • Incapacity Planning
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Philanthropy and Estate Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Revocable Living Trust
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
      • Medicaid Analysis Worksheet
      • Medicaid Guide
      • Vermont Medicaid
    • Newsletters
    • Presentations
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • SECURE Act
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Webinars/Seminars
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact
Home » Why You Need to Understand ACOs

Why You Need to Understand ACOs

March 23, 2015 by Ellen LaPlante

If it seems the new language common in the latest information from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is a debt planning and estate planning in essex junction vtbit acronym-heavy, you’re not alone. With the new healthcare laws in place, some of which have no direct effect on Medicaid recipients, there was bound to be a bit of a shakeup in the language, products, and services. Accountable Care Organizations, or ACOs, aren’t necessarily new, but it’s important now that we understand what they are and what they mean for those receiving healthcare, and certainly Medicaid and/or Medicare, in the U.S. The new healthcare laws are heavy with the focus on ACOs.

CMS defines ACOs as:

Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who come together voluntarily to give coordinated high quality care to their Medicare patients.

Sounds like a win-win for everyone involved, right? Even better, the goal of the team as a whole, is to provide the best coordinated care for patients so that they’re receiving the best care without so much wasted time with duplication of services. This, naturally, will also help prevent medical errors. This is especially important for those with lifelong medical needs.

It’s been successful, too. This, in theory, will help with healthcare budgets, the patients, and the government. For those on Medicare, there are several ACO programs. The Medicare Shared Savings Program is designed for program providers wishing to become an ACO. This is a solution that will benefit patients both in rural and suburban areas, while the Advance Payment ACO Model was designed for selected participants in the in the Shared Savings Program.

Remember, too, that there are many organizations across the nation have already incorporated ACO models, meaning the way they deliver care has already been developed on a patient-by-patient basis. Further, this is a voluntary program for doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. The goal, however, is to ensure it’s a viable option so that patients have even better choices. As CMS states in its message to providers, “We want to try to meet you where you are. Our hope is to show you models of participation that will encourage you to participate in and begin this work, no matter your organization’s stage.” Remember, the better organized and functional the program is, the better it provides for its patients.

This means Medicare patients who are seeing those doctors and hospitals that are participating in an ACO will reap the benefits. That’s not to say if your current healthcare provider isn’t participating with an ACO, your service will lag or be “less than”, it simply means it’s a team effort designed to work for the needs of each patient, no matter their health requirements.

In the meantime, Medicare will continue to encourage this healthcare model for service providers, including bundled payments for care improvement, community based transition programs and comprehensive primary care initiative.

It’s clear the way healthcare is being delivered is changing and while no one knows for sure the dynamics of what those efforts may look like, the goal is to better protect patients so that they’re as independent and healthy as long as possible.

To learn more about Medicaid, Medicare or other elder law issues, contact our offices today.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ellen LaPlante
Ellen LaPlante
Ellen LaPlante is an attorney whose mission is to provide clients with guidance in Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Medicaid Preparation. She is barred in Vermont and New York. Ellen helps clients put together unique estate plans, including assistance with Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Directives. She also works with clients on Medicaid Planning and qualifying for Medicaid assistance.
Ellen LaPlante
Latest posts by Ellen LaPlante (see all)
  • How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont - December 11, 2022
  • Planning for the “Silver Tsunami” - November 1, 2022
  • Discharge of Indebtedness Income and Student Loan Forgiveness - October 27, 2022

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Medicaid

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Essex Junction elder law attorneys
What You Need to Know about Elder Abuse
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
How to Apply for Senior Medicaid in Vermont
Planning for the “Silver Tsunami”
Discharge of Indebtedness Income and Student Loan Forgiveness
More than Just Salad Dressing: The Ongoing Saga of Newman’s Own Foundation
Essex Junction Medicaid planning attorneys
Does My 401(k) Account Count for Medicaid Eligibility?

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Blog Subscription

Sign up to Unsworth LaPlante's estate planning blog to receive all the latest news and updates.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

Map

unsworth_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Vermont Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.