The Department of Health and Human Services announces 32 health care organizations that will participate in the new Pioneer Accountable Care Organization initiative under the Affordable Care Act. Under the initiative, “Medicare will reward groups of health care providers that have formed ACOs based on how well they are able to both improve the health of their Medicare patients and lower their health care costs,” according to the release. “The initiative will test the effectiveness of several innovative payment models and how they can help experienced organizations to provide better care for beneficiaries, work in coordination with private payers, and reduce Medicare cost growth."