Washington LawHelp

• Can my health care provider share my medical records with others?
• How do I authorize my health care provider to give another provider my health care info?
• Can my health care provider disclose my health care information without my written permission?
• I think my provider has inappropriately disclosed my medical records. What can I do?
• What is the law about privacy and my medical records?

Can my health care provider share my medical records with others?

Only after getting your written consent. There are a few exceptions.

How do I authorize my health care provider to give another provider my health care info?

Your written consent must clearly state all of these:

• The nature of the info.

• Who is getting and giving it.

• Your name.

The health care provider may charge a “reasonable fee” for disclosing the health care info. You may have to pay this fee before your health care provider will disclose your health care info. In 2018, a “reasonable fee” is up to $1.17 a page to copy the first 30 pages, and up to 83 cents after that. Your health care provider may also charge a $26 clerical fee.

Can my health care provider disclose my health care information without my written permission?

Only to someone who needs the in­fo under very limited circumstances. Examples:

• To someone your health care provider reasonably believes is giving you care.

• Verbally, if made in accordance with good medical practice, to a relative or someone else with whom the health care provider believes you have a close personal relationship. You can stop this from happening by letting your health care provider know, in writing, that you forbid it.

• Under restrictive circumstances to those needing the info for education, research, or for the administra­tion of health care by the health care pro­vider.

• When a court requires it.

Other circumstances where your provider may disclose your health care info:

• For use in research.

• To pro­tect the public health.

• You are in a cus­todial institution such as a prison.

I think my provider has inappropriately disclosed my medical records. What can I do?

Talk to a lawyer. You can get a court order stopping fur­ther disclosure of your health care records.

You can collect damages for any prior unau­thorized disclosure. If you win, you may also win attorney’s fees and expenses to cover the costs of the lawsuit.

If you have a good case, a lawyer may represent you without a fee, expecting to get attorney’s fees from the other side. Many lawyers will talk to you for free to evaluate your case. Contact your local bar associa­tion’s Lawyer Referral Service, if available.

What is the law about privacy and my medical records?

That state law is in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) at chapter 70.02. 

(Permission for copying and distribution granted to the Alliance for Equal Justice and to individuals for non-commercial use only.)

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