Monday, May 28, 2007

HIPAA Privacy Rules in Dentistry

Q. May a physician send out appointment-reminder postcards?

A. Yes, The HIPAA Privacy Rules allow a physician to communicate with patients, including communications to the patient's home. However, privacy and confidentiality must be maintained. For example, it is A-OK to send a postcard reminder with the date and time of the next appointment. It is not acceptable to send a postcard with specific treatment information such as "Mr. Smith, your dentures are ready".