HIPAA compliance for Dental practices in Massachusetts
Dental groups are a frequent target for Right of Access complaints, because patients request x-rays and records and do not always get them inside the 30-day window. In Massachusetts, the federal HIPAA Security Rule is only the floor. 201 CMR 17.00 (under M.G.L. c. 93H and 93A) stacks on top.
The law that stacks on top of HIPAA in Massachusetts
Exposure: $5,000 per violation, treble damages possible under 93A, $50,000 per improper disposal.
A written information security program is mandatory. Enforcement is AG-only. The first action, Briar Group, was $110,000 in 2011.
Enforced by the state Attorney General, alongside federal OCR.
Recent OCR enforcement in Massachusetts and nationally
- Comstar, LLC$75,000
MA · May 30, 2025 · Ransomware affecting 585,621 individuals.
- Enzo Biochem (NY/NJ/CT AGs)$4,500,000
NY/NJ/CT · Aug 13, 2024 · HIPAA Security Rule failure treated as a SHIELD Act violation, affecting 2.4M patients.
- Solara Medical Supplies$3,000,000
(multi) · Jan 14, 2025 · Phishing breach, no Security Risk Analysis, and breach notification failure.
- Warby Parker, Inc.$1,500,000
national · Feb 20, 2025 · Credential stuffing, no Security Risk Analysis, and no audit log review.
Nearly every action above names the same first failure: no documented Security Risk Analysis. It is the cheapest gap to close and the most expensive to leave open.
How a Massachusetts Dental practice gets compliant
- 1
Get your free HIPAA Risk Score
Answer about ten questions about your Dental practice. You get a 0 to 100 score weighted by OCR enforcement priority and an estimated penalty exposure for Massachusetts.
- 2
Close the gaps, done for you
Honest Comply builds the documented Security Risk Analysis, policies, training records, and Business Associate Agreements your practice is missing, deployed in 72 hours from intake.
- 3
Stay provable
Your record stays dated, signed, and current, so the day a breach brings OCR or the Massachusetts Attorney General to your door, you can produce a defensible record in one sitting.
Massachusetts Dental HIPAA questions
- Does Massachusetts have medical privacy rules stricter than HIPAA for dental practices?
- Yes. Massachusetts enforces 201 CMR 17.00 (under M.G.L. c. 93H and 93A) on top of federal HIPAA. A written information security program is mandatory. Enforcement is AG-only. The first action, Briar Group, was $110,000 in 2011.
- What is the penalty exposure for a HIPAA violation in Massachusetts?
- $5,000 per violation, treble damages possible under 93A, $50,000 per improper disposal. That sits on top of federal OCR civil monetary penalties, which is why a single incident in Massachusetts can draw enforcement from two directions.
- Can patients sue my Dental practice directly in Massachusetts?
- Not directly under 201 CMR 17.00 (under M.G.L. c. 93H and 93A), but the state Attorney General can pursue penalties alongside OCR, so one breach can mean two enforcers.
- What does OCR look at first in a Dental practice?
- The Security Risk Analysis. Dental groups are a frequent target for Right of Access complaints, because patients request x-rays and records and do not always get them inside the 30-day window. A missing or stale analysis is the single most cited failure in recent settlements.
- How fast can a Massachusetts Dental practice become compliant?
- Honest Comply deploys a complete, documented, audit-ready HIPAA record in 72 hours, with the clock starting when you submit your intake form, not at checkout. It is a flat $299 a month with unlimited staff.
See exactly where your dental practice stands.
The free Risk Score scores your exposure against Massachusetts law and real OCR settlements in about five minutes. No card, no sales call.
Practice information only. We never ask for patient data.