---
title: "What is HIPAA and review replies?"
description: "HIPAA and review replies refers to the rule that healthcare providers can't disclose patients' health information when they reply to online reviews."
canonical: https://damex.digital/glossary/hipaa-review-replies/
last_updated: 2026-11-06
type: glossary
publisher: Damex Digital
context_version: 2026-11-06
---

> Damex Digital is an AI visibility agency that gets businesses named and cited when customers ask AI assistants who to hire. This is the Markdown version of https://damex.digital/glossary/hipaa-review-replies/

# HIPAA and review replies

> HIPAA and review replies refers to the rule that healthcare providers can't disclose patients' health information when they reply to online reviews.

Updated Nov 6, 2026.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule says a covered provider may not use or disclose protected health information except as the rule permits or requires. HHS has cited that rule when practices disclosed patients' information in replies to reviews.

HHS's Office for Civil Rights has settled with practices over this. A New Jersey provider paid $30,000 in 2023 after disclosing four patients' information in replies to their negative Google reviews. A California dental practice paid $23,000 after Yelp replies gave patients' full names where they had posted under nicknames, with details about their visits and insurance.

These were resolution agreements, which HHS describes as settlement agreements, and each came with a corrective action plan, including written policies.

A safe reply thanks the reviewer and invites them to call, without any detail about their care. Don't use a name, a visit detail or insurance information, even if the reviewer mentioned it first, and don't confirm or deny that they are a patient.

Example: A safe reply: 'Thank you for your feedback. Please call our office manager so we can talk privately.'

## Sources

1. [eCFR: 45 CFR 164.502, uses and disclosures of protected health information](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-164.502), checked Nov 6, 2026
2. [HHS OCR: Manasa Health Center resolution agreement and corrective action plan](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/manasa-ra-cap/index.html), checked Nov 6, 2026
3. [HHS OCR: New Vision Dental resolution agreement and corrective action plan](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/new-vision-ra-cap/index.html), checked Nov 6, 2026
4. [HHS OCR: Resolution agreements](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/index.html), checked Nov 6, 2026

## Covered in depth

- [Source profile: Zocdoc](https://damex.digital/sources/zocdoc.md)
- [Source profile: RealSelf](https://damex.digital/sources/realself.md)

Related terms: [Review response rate](https://damex.digital/glossary/review-response-rate/), [Review gating](https://damex.digital/glossary/review-gating/), [Practitioner profile](https://damex.digital/glossary/practitioner-profile/)

---

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