All 32 members of Medicare's Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model improved quality and patient satisfaction in their first performance year, but not all achieved savings, according to data released by CMS.
Overall, costs for the 669,000 Medicare beneficiaries aligned with the Pioneer ACOs grew just 0.3 percent in 2012, while costs for other beneficiaries not in the program grew 0.8 percent last year, according to CMS.
Thirteen Pioneers saved enough to share in the savings with Medicare, and two lost money in their first year. According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, a total of 18 Pioneers achieved some cost savings, and 12 did not achieve significant savings.
The following is a breakdown of what Pioneer ACO participants achieved financially in 2012, according to CMS and the Wall Street Journal:
• $76 million: amount 13 Pioneer ACOs achieved in shared savings
• $4 million: total amount two Pioneers owe Medicare for losses
• $33 million: net savings for Medicare Trust Funds
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