requirements. All medical certifications must be written. Therefore, the initial oral certification with a 7-day window to verify in writing is no longer valid. 52 Pa. Code § 56.113 (relating to medical certifications). We also noted that this interpretation does not change the current regulation at 52 Pa. Code § 56.112 which provides for a three-day postponement of termination pending receipt of a medical certificate. As for the contents of a medical certificate at Section 56.113, several parties identified a major concern– specifically the requirements in Section 56.113(3) and (4) which require the medical certificate to include the and anticipated length of the “nature and the for which the service is Some parties affliction” “specific reason required.” pointed out that this requires the medical professional to divulge information about the medical condition to the utility contrary to the privacy and confidentiality of patient’s – personal medical information that patients have come to expect. The Commission agreed that the of the affliction found at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113(3) and the specific “nature” reason for which service is required found at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113(4) were no longer appropriate nor are they needed. Accordingly, we propose eliminating the of the “nature” affliction and specific reason for which service is as part of this regulation. “the required” However, we do not see the of the at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113 (3) in this “length affliction” same subsection as being contrary to patient expectations of privacy; in fact, the utility needs to know this information so as to determine the duration of the medical certificate. 52 Pa. Code § 56.114. Some parties have suggested that the medical See professional’s license number be included as a required element on a medical certificate. We invite parties to comment on this possibility. We also invite parties to comment on any other medical certificate issues they think need to be addressed. For example, some parties have previously asked the Commission to clarify or revise the payment obligations of customers while protected by a medical certificate. 52 Pa Code § 56.116. Some parties have asked that the See obligation to pay include not only current bills, but also payment towards the arrears. We
requirements. All medical certifications must be written. Therefore, the initial oral certification with a 7-day window to verify in writing is no longer valid. 52 Pa. Code § 56.113 (relating to medical certifications). We also noted that this interpretation does not change the current regulation at 52 Pa. Code § 56.112 which provides for a three-day postponement of termination pending receipt of a medical certificate. As for the contents of a medical certificate at Section 56.113, several parties identified a major concern– specifically the requirements in Section 56.113(3) and (4) which require the medical certificate to include the “nature and anticipated length of the affliction” and the “specific reason for which the service is required.” Some parties pointed out that this requires the medical professional to divulge information about the patient’s medical condition to the utility – contrary to the privacy and confidentiality of personal medical information that patients have come to expect. The Commission agreed that the “nature” of the affliction found at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113(3) and the specific reason for which service is required found at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113(4) were no longer appropriate nor are they needed. Accordingly, we propose eliminating the “nature” of the affliction and “the specific reason for which service is required” as part of this regulation. However, we do not see the “length of the affliction” at 52 Pa. Code § 56.113 (3) in this same subsection as being contrary to patient expectations of privacy; in fact, the utility needs to know this information so as to determine the duration of the medical certificate. See 52 Pa. Code § 56.114. Some parties have suggested that the medical professional’s license number be included as a required element on a medical certificate. We invite parties to comment on this possibility. We also invite parties to comment on any other medical certificate issues they think need to be addressed. For example, some parties have previously asked the Commission to clarify or revise the payment obligations of customers while protected by a medical certificate. See 52 Pa Code § 56.116. Some parties have asked that the obligation to pay include not only current bills, but also payment towards the arrears. We
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