California HIPAA Release and Authorization is a form used by healthcare providers when they need to share a patient’s protected health information (PHI) with another agency, individual, or healthcare provider. The form serves as a legal document that allows the provider to share the patient’s PHI in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. California HIPAA Release and Authorization forms come in two main types: general release forms and specific release forms. General release forms allow for the release of all PHI and medical records for a specified period of time, while specific release forms allow for the release of only certain types of PHI, such as medical history or test results. Both forms must be signed by the patient and the healthcare provider in order for the PHI to be released.