A short post today, but it's important and if you're a practicing doctor you need to be aware of it.  From the ADA website:

The ADA updated its sample Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, Notice of Privacy Practices to reflect new federal requirements regarding the use and disclosure of certain substance use disorder treatment information. Beginning Feb. 16, HIPAA-covered practices must include information in their Notice of Privacy Practices describing how substance use disorder records protected under title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 2 may be used and disclosed. The new federal requirements are the result of a final rule modifying the Part 2 rules published Feb. 16, 2024. 

So head on over to the ADA to changes to the HIPAA, Notice of Privacy Practices.  As we all know, compliance to federal law is important.   Also, this is another plug from me on the benefits of membership in organized dentistry.  Without a source for this kind of information, it would be up to each of us to keep track of things like this individually... and we all know how difficult that would.  As I've said before, organized dentistry does a lot for us behind the scenes that many are not aware of.  This is just another example of when someone asks, "What does the ADA do for me?"  I'd answer... "things like this."

I don't want anyone to think that I'm frequently bringing this up because I'm heavily involved with the ADA.  I'm a member, but that's the extent of it.  However, I'm a big believer in what they do.   Like any large organization, there are things I don't agree with, but the benefits more than weigh out the negatives.  I highly encourage every doctor to be a member.