As reported by Ilene MacDonald with FierceHealthcare, although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to tout the success of the Pioneer accountable care organizations, the agency confirmed in an announcement that nine will leave the experimental program. The agency confirmed that Pioneers are abandoning the program, saying that seven did not produce savings and intend to apply to the alternative ACO model, the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).