Four Major Health Systems Sit Out ‘Pioneer’ ACO Program
The Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Geisinger Health System and Intermountain Healthcare opted not to apply for the federal government's "Pioneer" Accountable Care Organization program, which HHS unveiled in response to the overwhelmingly negative reception to CMS' proposed regulations for ACOs. HHS said the Pioneer program would "provide a faster path for mature ACOs" and allow high-performing health systems to access their savings up front in exchange for taking on greater financial risk. Intermountain representative Daron Cowley said the health system did not apply because "the ACO regulations fell short of the goals that had been set, especially as it pertains to institutions that already are organized to coordinate care." Â
- "'Poster Boys' Take a Pass on Pioneer ACO Program" (Gold, Kaiser Health News, 9/14).