The pioneers are circling the wagons. Nine of the 32 participants in the Pioneer ACO program that began early last year say they are considering opting out because the financial risks overshadow the potential savings that can be realized, Bloomberg News reported. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services spokesperson Brian Cook told the wire service that four of the Pioneer participants are considering morphing their ACO structure into something that poses less of a financial risk, and that it was anticipated that some would "shift between models," he said. CMS did not name those wavering Pioneer ACO participants. "It really shows a critical cost-containment approach in the Affordable Care Act is running into real problems," Robert Blendon, a health-policy professor at Harvard University's School of Public Health, told Bloomberg. -- Read the full article at FierceHealthcare