Some area Medicare beneficiaries can expect a new model of patient care.

Mountain States Health Alliance and Integrated Solutions Health Network announced Monday they will be providers of an Accountable Care Organization, also known as an ACO.

Under the new model of healthcare, about 17,000 area Medicare beneficiaries will receive a more proactive approach to care with assistance from providers before a patient ever gets sick.

"There will be individuals that will be able to assist them 24/7 through a nurse call line. There will be other individuals to assist them from the perspective of complex conditions and cases. There will also be an individual there to help coordinate their care from the perspective of setting up office visits," said Rob Slattery, President and CEO of Integrated Solutions Health Network.

We found out, there's no enrollment or auto assignment into the ACO.

In the long run, we're told the new model could help reduce health care costs.