Washington Authorization to Release Records is a process used by medical providers in the state of Washington to obtain, use, or disclose protected health information (PHI) in accordance with the Washington Privacy of Health Information Act (WP HIA). It is a legal document that allows a patient to give permission for a provider to release or obtain PHI for treatment, payment, or other activities related to healthcare. There are two different types of Washington Authorization to Release Records: General Release Forms and Limited Release Forms. A General Release Form allows the release of any and all PHI to any person or organization as specified on the form. A Limited Release Form allows the release of only a specified type of PHI to a person or organization as specified on the form. Both forms must be signed by the patient or individual with legal authority to sign on behalf of the patient.