Health care technology and the law

The health care and computer industries have been booming in the 1990s. Where they've met, the legal system has been active. Group practice administrators should especially be aware of three legal areas: regulation of the electronic transmission of health care records and billing, the Year 2000 Problem and telemedicine. The Department of Health and Human Services is due to release standards for electronic transmissions in order to achieve compatability and patient privacy. Preventing computer problems in 2000 may run up against copyright laws, and issues about licensure in telemedicine remain an open question.