Final answer:
Regulations were not a significant barrier to the formation of RHIOs in the early 2000s due to a historical trend of deregulation that reduced government restrictions on many industries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the barriers to the formation of Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) in the early 2000s. Significant barriers at the time included technology, politics, market competition, and regulations. However, considering the context provided, regulations were not a significant barrier to the formation of RHIOs in the early 2000s. This is because there was a trend of deregulation starting from the late 1970s into the 1990s, which eliminated or reduced government restrictions on many industries. Therefore, the reduced regulatory environment at the time would likely not have been a significant barrier to RHIO formation.