The move toward highly specialized, disease or service-specific settings for the delivery of health care, whether inpatient or outpatient, is being driven both by technological breakthroughs and favorable reimbursement treatment of such providers. In addition, such specialty providers may offer unique opportunities for increased physician involvement in administrative and clinical decision making. Each type of specialty health care provider raises unique legal, financial and operational issues, whether it is licensing, physician ownership, or simply structuring the arrangement to ensure appropriate reimbursement.