(1) The appellant may act as their own representative or may choose to be represented by another person, except that employees of the health care authority (HCA) or HCA's authorized agents may not represent an appellant, unless approved by a presiding officer or review officer.

(2) If the appellant is represented by a person who is not an attorney admitted to practice in Washington state, the representative must provide the presiding officer and other parties with the representative's name, address, and telephone number. In cases involving confidential information, the nonattorney representative must provide the PEBB appeals unit and other parties with a signed, written consent permitting release to the nonattorney representative of the appellant's health information protected by state or federal law.

(3) An attorney admitted to practice law in Washington state representing the appellant must file a written notice of appearance containing the attorney's name, address, and telephone number with the presiding officer's office and serve all parties with the notice. In cases involving confidential information, the attorney must provide the PEBB appeals unit and other parties with a signed, written consent permitting release to the attorney of the appellant's health information protected by state or federal law. If the appellant's attorney representative no longer represents the appellant, then the attorney must file a written notice of withdrawal of representation with the presiding officer or review officer or officers' office and serve all parties with the notice.