ADA Offers New Resource To Help Dentists Comply with HIPAA Breach Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 28, 2009—The American Dental Association (ADA) is offering a downloadable electronic book to help dental offices comply with the enhanced privacy and security breach rules that were part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. While the HIPAA requirements in maintaining privacy of patient health records remain the same, the steps that providers must take in the event of a breach of their security have changed. And there are significant fines associated with non-compliance.

Dentists can purchase the electronic book to help their dental offices comply with the new rules for responding to a breach. The Guidance addresses breach notification in a user-friendly question-and-answer format and includes the following additional tools to help dental practices understand and prepare to implement breach notification compliance:

• Questions and Answers about Breach Notification
• A Breach Notification Flow Chart
• Sample Dental Practice Breach Notification Action List
• Sample Breach Notification Policy and Procedures
• Sample Breach Notification Risk Assessment Worksheet
• Sample Breach Notification Notice to Individual

The document, "Guidance for Complying with the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule," in the form of a downloadable e-book, is available to non-ADA members for $99 and can be purchased at adacatalog.org or by calling 800-947-4746. The Guidance of course is free to ADA members.

The ADA strongly recommends the Guidance to all dentists concerned about complying with the revised regulations.

About the American Dental Association

Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org

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