Summary.
The bill establishes a framework to ensure a continuous and effective electricity supply for electricity-dependent patients and declares compliance with its provisions a matter of national interest. It defines these patients as people who, because of a medical condition and while receiving hospital care at home, need electrical medical devices continuously or temporarily to support vital functions. It also defines the priority assistance that distribution companies must provide, including lending equipment to keep those devices powered during an outage.
The Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) would create the National Registry System for Electricity-Dependent Patients (Sistema Nacional de Registro de Pacientes Electrodependientes) together with public and private health institutions. The registry would collect general information, diagnoses, and medical follow-up information, as well as statistics coordinated with the National Institute of Statistics and Census (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo) of the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República). The Ministry of Health would set the criteria for official recognition as an electricity-dependent patient, which would be incorporated into the Disability Patient Card (Carnet de Paciente con Discapacidad) issued by the ministry.
Registration as an electricity-dependent patient would be valid for five years unless the medical diagnosis specifies a shorter period. Before it expires, the patient or their representative would have to reapply with updated supporting information. While the registration remains valid, they would have to report any change to the information used to register.
Registered and accredited patients would receive priority assistance during outages and devices that allow their medical equipment to operate until service is restored. The distribution company could not disconnect their supply for nonpayment and would have to offer a special payment agreement to settle the debt. The customer could request a 25% discount on monthly consumption; if other discounts applied, the one with the highest percentage would be used. Before scheduled disconnections, the distribution company would have to contact the customer, their representative, or the designated person to implement contingency measures. It would also have to provide specialized, priority assistance through a toll-free line and maintain a record of general information to process electricity-dependent customer status and its benefits.
The National Authority of Public Services (Autoridad Nacional de Servicios Públicos) would sanction distribution companies that refused to provide service under the prescribed conditions and rates, with fines ranging from 1,000 balboas (B/.1,000.00) to 5,000 balboas (B/.5,000.00). The severity of the violation, repeat offenses, and factors endangering the patient's stability and life would be considered when setting the fines. Half of the proceeds would be divided equally between the Disability Revolving Fund (Fondo Rotativo de Discapacidad) created by the National Secretariat for Disability (Secretaría Nacional de Discapacidad) and the Office of Comprehensive Health for Persons with Disabilities (Oficina de Salud Integral para la Población con Discapacidad) of the Ministry of Health. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would issue implementing regulations within no more than 90 calendar days, and the law would take effect upon promulgation.
Given its content, the bill concerns the public institutions mentioned, electricity-dependent patients and their representatives, public and private health institutions, and electricity distribution companies.
What it proposes.
- Electricity supply for electricity-dependent patients receiving hospital care at home.
- Registration and accreditation of electricity-dependent patient status.
- Priority assistance, rate benefits, and contingency measures.
- Obligations and penalties applicable to electricity distribution companies.
Who it would affect.
- Registered and accredited electricity-dependent patients and their representatives.
- Electricity distribution companies.
- Public and private health institutions involved in registration.
Key points.
- Declares it a matter of national interest to ensure continuous and effective electricity service for electricity-dependent patients.Art. 1
- Defines an electricity-dependent patient and priority assistance, which includes technical solutions and loaned electricity supply equipment.Art. 2
- Directs the Ministry of Health to create the national registry and establish official accreditation incorporated into the Disability Patient Card.Art. 3
- Makes registration valid for five years unless the diagnosis specifies a shorter period, and requires renewal and updates to the information provided.Art. 4
- Provides for priority assistance, protection against disconnection for nonpayment, a debt payment agreement, a 25% discount, notice of scheduled disconnections, and a toll-free line.Art. 5
- Requires distribution companies to maintain information on accredited customers to process their registration and benefits.Art. 6
- Establishes fines for noncompliant distribution companies and allocates 50% of the proceeds among the specified institutions.Art. 7
- Requires the Executive Branch to issue implementing regulations within no more than 90 calendar days and provides that the law takes effect upon promulgation.Arts. 8-9