In This Issue:

- First Look at Pioneer ACO Data Reveals Murky Path Forward

- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

- Other Federal Regulatory Initiatives

- Other Congressional Initiatives

- Other Health Care News

- Upcoming Congressional Hearings and Markups

- Excerpt from First Look at Pioneer ACO Data Reveals Murky Path Forward:

Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finally released quality and financial data for each participant in their Pioneer ACO initiative. The data shows mixed results in quality improvement over the first two years and similar results in spending. Already, 13 ACOs have dropped out of the program which was launched three years ago to give more advanced health systems the opportunity to redesign care while saving the Medicare program money.