Karen DeSalvo is leaving the ONC to work on the Ebola task force.

Karen DeSalvo is leaving the ONC, effective immediately, to serve as Acting Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). DeSalvo will work with HHS Secretary, Sylvia Mathews Burwell on urgent issues HHS is facing. These issues include responding to Ebola.

Lisa Lewis, currently the chief operating officer at ONC will fill the National Coordinator role until a replacement for DeSalvo is determined.

HHS announced that they will invest $840M to support improved health outcomes.

The department for Health and Human Services (HHS) has committed $840 million over the next four years to supporting 150,000 clinicians as part of the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative. The initiative will use a combination of incentives and education to empower doctors to work together to transition from a quantity to a quality-driven approach that focuses on improving patient outcomes. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to progress toward measurable goals, such as improving clinical outcomes, reducing unnecessary testing and costs, and avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations.

ICD-10 appears to be increasing the demand for Computer Assisted Coding.

As we reported earlier this week, Computer Assisted Coding (CAC) tools are seeing the highest growth potential, according to a recent HIMSS Analytics report. Researchers reviewed the HIMSS Analytics database to compare the use of support service tools and anticipated sales. Based on this research, HIMSS Analytics found a lot of opportunity for CAC tools as the ICD-10 deadline approaches. More details from the study can be found here.