Insights

Plain guides for practice owners

Sourced guides to the rules behind healthcare marketing, for owners and practice managers: ads and claims, HIPAA and patient privacy, websites, local search and reviews, and specialty by specialty. Each guide links the rule it relies on and the date it was checked.

Browse by topic

The Creahive Health team writes these guides for independent practices that run their own marketing. We read the primary source for each rule (the statute or regulation, the federal agency page, the ad platform or Google policy) and link it in the text. Each guide shows the date the rule was checked, and we recheck rules that change. They explain the rules in plain words; they are not legal advice, so check anything specific to your state or license with a healthcare attorney.

The rules behind healthcare marketing

Who may advertise what, when HIPAA treats a message as marketing, and the referral, testimonial and claims rules that apply to every practice. 53 guides.

Ads, social media and outreach

Google, Meta and Local Services Ads policies, plus email, mail, video, events and press. 54 guides.

Local SEO, reviews and content

Google Business Profile, reviews, listings and health content that ranks without crossing into medical advice. 25 guides.

Websites, privacy and tracking

Forms, pixels, cookies, hosting, accessibility and the notices a practice website needs. 28 guides.

Phones, front desk and patient messages

Answering every call, reminders, recalls and the HIPAA and FCC rules for texts and portal messages. 21 guides.

Prices, payment and billing notices

Advertised prices, financing, memberships, estimates and the federal price and billing disclosures. 12 guides.

Physician specialties

Specialty guides with the claims, referral and ad rules that come up most in each field. 128 guides.

Mental and behavioral health

Privacy, claims and referral rules for therapy, psychiatry and treatment programs. 11 guides.

Dental, vision, hearing and therapy

Guides for dental, eye care, hearing, rehab and allied health practices. 43 guides.

Facilities, care services and pharmacy

Hospitals, centers, home and residential care, transport, labs and pharmacies. 44 guides.

Cash-pay, aesthetic and wellness care

FDA status, result claims and photo rules for elective and self-pay services. 59 guides.

Health companies, vendors and employers

For companies that sell to practices, clinicians, employers or consumers. 41 guides.

Newest guides

All 520 guides by topic

Start with the healthcare marketing rules guide, which walks through each rule with its source. Every guide below cites the rule it relies on, with a link and the date it was checked.

The rules behind healthcare marketing

Who may advertise what, when HIPAA treats a message as marketing, and the referral, testimonial and claims rules that apply to every practice. Open the topic page.

Ads, social media and outreach

Google, Meta and Local Services Ads policies, plus email, mail, video, events and press. Open the topic page.

Physician specialties

Specialty guides with the claims, referral and ad rules that come up most in each field. Open the topic page.

Dental, vision, hearing and therapy

Guides for dental, eye care, hearing, rehab and allied health practices. Open the topic page.

Facilities, care services and pharmacy

Hospitals, centers, home and residential care, transport, labs and pharmacies. Open the topic page.

Cash-pay, aesthetic and wellness care

FDA status, result claims and photo rules for elective and self-pay services. Open the topic page.

Health companies, vendors and employers

For companies that sell to practices, clinicians, employers or consumers. Open the topic page.