Wash. Rev. Code § 70.225.040

Confidentiality of prescription information — Procedures — Immunity when acting in good faith

Prescription information submitted to the department of health is confidential. Consequently, the department must establish procedures to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of patient information.

The department may disclose confidential prescription information, pursuant to the “prescription monitoring program,” to: (1) Persons authorized to prescribe or dispense controlled substances, (2) individuals that request their own information; (3) entities that license, certify, or regulate health professionals; (4) law enforcement agents and prosecutors that are investigating a specific individual; (5) Individuals within the department of social and health services and the health care authority that work with Medicaid recipients; (6) the director of the department of labor in regards to a workers compensation claim; (7) entities that have been subpoenaed by a grand jury or court; and (8) department of health employees engaged in the administration of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act and Public Health and Safety laws.

The department may also disclose the information to entities that need the information for statistical, research, or educational purposes so long as the department removes all identifying information.

Washington grants immunity to dispensers and practitioners for any liability that may arise upon their good faith use of information from the prescription monitoring program.