Earlier this week, CMS administrator Donald Berwick announced that he will be leaving his post as head of the influential government health agency. The announcement prompted some experts to question what the move would mean for the future of government health programs, including ones encouraging the use of electronic health records.

Berwick played an instrumental role in the ongoing implementation of the healthcare reform laws and the meaningful use incentive program.

While Berwick's departure does not put the future of these initiatives in doubt, a recent article in Fierce Health IT suggested that CMS's accountable care organization incentive program and shared savings initiative may be called into question, as these programs are still in their formative stages.

The news source suggested that this could have major impacts on the healthcare system, as experts agree that leveraging data to deliver better quality care at lower costs, as these programs promise to do, is a key to the future success of the system.

Following the departure of Berwick, President Barack Obama nominated Marilynn Tavenner, who has served as CMS principle deputy, to fill the post.