(KCEN) -- It's a major merger, all to help Medicare patients.
Today Scott & White healthcare announced they will be working with the Walgreens Well Network.
The idea is to give Medicare patients higher quality and more coordinated care.
Scott & White and Walgreens will become what's called an accountable care organization.
These ACOs were created after Obamacare passed.
Scott & White doctors all across central Texas will work with Walgreens pharmacists as a team.
By working together, they are more accessible to patients and will create high quality care.
And that may boost preventive efforts and avoid duplicate services.
The goal is to save money and lower medicare costs.
President and CEO of Scott & White Dr. Robert Pryor said, "So that when we save money for the government, we can share in that savings for the government so the government benefits, the patients benefit and the organizations that are in ACOs all benefit together."
Scott & White and the Walgreens Well Network will begin planning for the merger as soon as possible.
They expect Medicare patients to be able opt in to the program sometime this year.
