Updated HIPAA change effective February

January 21, 2026Jacob Sigmon

Atlanta Dental Supply • Compliance Readiness

HIPAA Update for Dental Offices

What to Review Before February 16, 2026

Does your Notice of Privacy Practices need a quick update?

There’s a federal HIPAA update tied to substance use disorder (SUD) records and 42 CFR Part 2. Many dental practices should review their Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) before February 16, 2026.

This is not a full HIPAA overhaul — it’s a targeted update to your privacy notice language.

Download the 1-Minute Checklist

1 page • 1 minute • written for dentists

Why This Matters to Dentists

Even if you don’t treat substance use directly, dental offices often:

Receive records from hospitals or specialists
Share information within integrated health systems
Use electronic records that include medical history

Some of that information can fall under extra privacy protections. Your NPP should reflect how that information is handled.

What You Should Do (Simple Version)

Review your current Notice of Privacy Practices
Make sure it addresses SUD / Part 2 information, not just general HIPAA language.
Make sure your posted notice matches
If your NPP is on your website or handed out at intake, the wording should be current.
Give your team basic guidance
Staff should know when to pause and ask if a privacy question comes up.

That’s it.

Quick 1-Minute Self-Check

We have a Notice of Privacy Practices We receive records from medical providers We use electronic or shared systems We want to avoid last-minute compliance issues

If you checked any of these, a quick review is smart.

Free Resource for Dental Offices

HIPAA NPP Review Checklist
1 page • 1 minute • no legal jargon

Download the Checklist

This checklist helps you identify what to review with your compliance officer or attorney.
Atlanta Dental does not provide legal advice — this is an educational tool only.

How Atlanta Dental Helps

We’re not here to create paperwork. We help practices stay organized and prepared by providing:

A simple checklist (no legal language)
Clear talking points for your team
A starting point for your compliance conversation

Bottom Line

This is about avoiding surprises, not creating work.
A quick review now beats a rushed update later.