Former national coordinator for health IT David Blumenthal was one of the central figures in launching the government's electronic health records incentive program. So how does he think the initiative is shaping up now that he is out of the office?

Blumenthal recently told Information Week that he is encouraged to see that so many physicians have adopted EHR systems at such an early stage of the incentive program. However, he pointed out that there is still a great deal of work to be done.

In particular, he said that there are many states that have still not launched their Medicaid incentive programs, which shuts out many physicians who primarily treat Medicaid patients from the benefits of this arm of the initiative.

"I think everyone wants to know if we are ready to declare victory, and the answer is that I'm encouraged by the progress, but I think it's too soon to make conclusions," Blumenthal told the news source.

Blumenthal is largely credited with designing many of the requirements for participating in the meaningful use incentive program that still exist today, according to Kaiser Health News.