Bartley v. Buckeye Rural Elec. Coop., Inc.

No. 173 CIV 93 (Ohio Ct. C.P. Pike County Apr. 11, 1994) ; Clearinghouse Number: 50774

Description

Rural Electric Cooperative Agrees to Accept Medical Certification Forms from Persons Who Rely on Electricity to Protect Their Health

Abstract

The parties have settled this class action challenging defendant rural electric cooperative’s refusal to accept medical certification forms from households with persons who are dependent on electrical service to protect their health. Named plaintiff, an eight-year-old girl with severe asthma, relies on thrice-daily treatments from an electrically operated, physician-prescribed medical device. Defendant terminated her household’s electric service because her mother lacked $27 toward payment of a $77 bill. Defendant refused to accept a statement of medical necessity from plaintiff, nor would it provide plaintiff’s family with a reasonable payment plan. On behalf of a similarly situated class, plaintiff alleged that defendant’s actions violated state law requiring electric service providers to allow persons dependent on electrical service the opportunity to complete a medical certification form and requiring providers to offer reasonable extended payment plans to consumers eligible for such certification. Under the terms of the settlement, defendant has agreed to modify its policies regarding medical certification forms and to offer extended payment plans to households that have submitted a medical certification signed by a physician.

Additional Information

Attorney Information
Plaintiffs represented by Linda Kowieski, Southeastern Ohio Legal Services Program, 15 E. Second St., Chillicothe, OH 45601, (614) 773-0012; Steven Traubert, Gary Smith.
Docket Date
1994-04-11 00:00:00+00:00