2018 Revised Code of Washington
Title 70 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
70.02 Medical records—Health care information access and disclosure.
70.02.020 Disclosure by health care provider.

RCW 70.02.020 Disclosure by health care provider.

(1) Except as authorized elsewhere in this chapter, a health care provider, an individual who assists a health care provider in the delivery of health care, or an agent and employee of a health care provider may not disclose health care information about a patient to any other person without the patient's written authorization. A disclosure made under a patient's written authorization must conform to the authorization.

(2) A patient has a right to receive an accounting of disclosures of health care information made by a health care provider or a health care facility in the six years before the date on which the accounting is requested, except for disclosures:

(a) To carry out treatment, payment, and health care operations;

(b) To the patient of health care information about him or her;

(c) Incident to a use or disclosure that is otherwise permitted or required;

(d) Pursuant to an authorization where the patient authorized the disclosure of health care information about himself or herself;

(e) Of directory information;

(f) To persons involved in the patient's care;

(g) For national security or intelligence purposes if an accounting of disclosures is not permitted by law;

(h) To correctional institutions or law enforcement officials if an accounting of disclosures is not permitted by law; and

(i) Of a limited data set that excludes direct identifiers of the patient or of relatives, employers, or household members of the patient.

[ 2014 c 220 § 5; 2013 c 200 § 2; 2005 c 468 § 2; 1993 c 448 § 2; 1991 c 335 § 201.]

NOTES:

Effective date—2014 c 220: See note following RCW 70.02.290.

Effective date—2013 c 200: See note following RCW 70.02.010.

Effective date—1993 c 448: See note following RCW 70.02.010.