The American Dental Association responded to the Senate's request on methods to secure dental data that is not protected by HIPAA.
The organization said creating new regulations would create a greater burden for smaller dental practices because they cannot hire new staff to help meet further requirements, according to an Oct. 13 ADA news release.
The ADA also asked Congress to clarify and provide transparency to consumers about what data is covered by HIPAA.
The organization suggested that Congress provide more funding to train compliance staff and create an exception for dentists to disclose patient data when responding to online reviews without violating HIPAA regulations.
The ADA said it supports Congress determining how to regulate non-HIPAA covered data, but there needs to be a balance between regulation and the burden of compliance on dentists and patients.