By: Mike Segal
Pioneer ACOs are the most sophisticated organizations that have entered into the CMS ACO project. Only 32 organizations were accepted in 2011 as Pioneer ACOs. Pioneers obtain the highest amount of ACO shared savings (60%), but also bear risk of loss immediately. They are also more immediately subject to the ACO quality standard requirements.
Recently there have been two major developments regarding Pioneer ACOs. First, nine Pioneer organizations that, effective as of the end of 2013, they will withdraw from the program. Second, the data is showing that the results for Pioneer ACOs for 2012 are encouraging but not exactly a “home run” at this point.
