Reply to reviews without confirming who your patients are
Paste a reply before you post it. PlainReply highlights wording that could confirm a patient relationship, a visit, treatment or billing details, and suggests safer phrasing. Free, no sign-up.
Check a reply
Don't paste patient names, chart notes or anything beyond the public review. PlainReply checks wording only. It isn't legal advice and doesn't guarantee HIPAA compliance. Your text stays in your browser and is never stored.
Optional. Lets PlainReply spot details you're repeating back.
Optional. Used only to check you didn't address them by name.
So we don't flag your own name.
Why a friendly reply can still be a problem
The American Dental Association warns that “fines might also apply if your response merely confirms that a patient was indeed at your practice,” and that even “'Thank you for coming in,' 'We appreciate our patients' or 'We love treating your kids' can violate HIPAA.” (ADA)
Federal regulators have acted on review replies before. The HHS Office for Civil Rights imposed a $50,000 civil money penalty on Dr. U. Phillip Igbinadolor, D.M.D. & Associates, P.A., a North Carolina dental practice, that disclosed a patient's information “on a webpage in response to a negative online review.” (HHS) See Is responding to a Google review a HIPAA violation? for more cases.
What PlainReply looks for
- Phrases that confirm someone is a patient (“thanks for coming in,” “see you next time”)
- Visits, appointments, treatments and procedures
- Insurance, billing and payment details
- The reviewer's name, or staff names tied to a patient
- Dates and appointment times
- Details you're repeating back from the review
- Arguing with the reviewer, or offering to explain the situation in public
How it works
- Paste your reply (and the review, if you like).
- See highlighted risky wording and why.
- Swap in a safer version, then post it yourself on Google.
Guides
HIPAA-compliant Google review responses: safer templates for healthcare offices
Safer templates that acknowledge the review, not the care.
Negative dental review response examples that protect patient privacy
How to answer a 1-star review without confirming the reviewer was a patient.
Positive dental review response examples: friendly, short and private
Short thank-yous that don't confirm someone is your patient.
Is responding to a Google review a HIPAA violation?
Replying isn't banned, but confirming someone is a patient can be.
Dentists fined for replying to online reviews: every HHS case, with sources
Who paid, how much, and what the replies had in common.
How to ask patients for Google reviews (scripts, timing and what's not allowed)
Short scripts, Google's ban on incentives, and the FTC's 2024 rule.
Fake Google review on your dental practice? How to report it, and how to reply safely
Flag it in Google Business Profile, appeal if needed, and reply without confirming anyone is a patient.
A free review reply checker for dental offices (and when you need paid software)
What a free wording check covers, and verified starting prices for paid tools.
How to respond to a patient complaint: a step-by-step guide for dental offices
Phone, email, letter and public reviews, without exposing patient information.
HIPAA social media rules for dental offices: reviews, photos and testimonials
A practice may use social media; it may not disclose patient information there.
Can a dentist respond to a Yelp review? Yes — here's how to do it without disclosing patient information
Two HHS dental cases were about Yelp replies. What to say, and what to leave out.
Want alerts when new reviews come in?
We're exploring new-review alerts, saved replies for your office and a check of your past replies. Join the waitlist and tell us what you'd use.
FAQ
Is this free?
Yes. The checker and drafts are free and need no account.
Do you see what I type?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored.
Does a green result mean my reply is HIPAA compliant?
No. PlainReply checks wording patterns only. It can miss things and can't judge context. When in doubt, ask your privacy officer or attorney.
Which offices is it for?
It's written with dental offices in mind and works for other healthcare practices. Rules vary by state, and some state privacy laws are stricter than HIPAA.