"CMS Confirms Nine Pioneer ACOs May Leave Program"

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has confirmed that nine of the 32 Pioneer accountable care organizations may walk away from the experiment, which is designed to change the way medical providers are paid to manage care for patients with chronic diseases. "The nine Pioneer ACOs have probably 20 reasons for leaving," said Mark Callahan, MD, CEO of The Mount Sinai Hospital's ACO. But Dr. Callahan said that it's too early to know what the potential departures will mean to the Pioneer program and the ACA's financial goals. "I think some will convert to regular ACO status so they won't have the downside of the financial risk," Dr. Callahan said. "The issues around quality metrics have also raised concerns, so CMS may adjust the measures to keep the ACOs from leaving the Pioneer program." Learn more