Several ‘Pioneer’ ACOs Might Exit the Program, CMS Says

Nine of the 32 "Pioneer" accountable care organizations may soon exit the program, which is one of the Affordable Care Act's signature initiatives to produce better care at lower cost. Under the Pioneer program, which launched in January 2012, participating providers contracted with CMS to meet quality targets and assume new risk when caring for a set population of Medicare beneficiaries. At least four of the organizations that likely will opt out of Pioneer instead might join the Medicare Shared Savings Program, which offers less risk, according to a CMS spokesperson.

• "Hospitals Threaten Obamacare Savings by Exiting Care Program" (Wayne, Bloomberg Businessweek, 6/29).