Federal guidelines update.

This article reviews laws and regulations that were introduced recently and that will see special application for the allergist/immunologist in 2005. The current work plan of the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services is analyzed New implications of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) security standards, the Administrative Simplification Compliance Act provider identifier number, and Stark II regulations deserve attention.