Robocall prescription verification allowed under the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Contact Lens Rule must be addressed in year-end legislation, urged U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) and a bipartisan group of 93 representatives.
“Despite repeated engagement from Congress, the FTC refuses to address the dangerous practice of verifying contact lens prescriptions with robocalls,” Rep. Burgess said on Monday.
In fact, there has been “overwhelming congressional engagement” on the matter, including through appropriations language, multiple sign-on letters, and direct questioning during a hearing, according to an Aug. 3 letter Rep. Burgess and his colleagues sent to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
“Congress has repeatedly expressed concerns over the use of prescription verification robocalls, which too often result in patients receiving different lenses than what was fitted and prescribed by their eye doctor,” the members wrote. “With the variety of other prescription verification options available, restricting the use of these robocalls is a simple fix that would better protect the tens of millions of patients and contact lens consumers who are now at risk.”
Rep. Burgess said in a statement that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for patients to order their contacts through online markets.
“These markets must verify the prescription, but according to the updated FTC Contact Lens Rule, companies may still verify prescriptions using automated voice calls,” said Rep. Burgess. “This practice has caused many Americans to receive the wrong prescription. The use of a contact lens not prescribed and fitted by an eye doctor can lead to harmful health complications and/or permanent vision loss.”
Since the FTC refuses to end this harmful practice, Rep. Burgess added, “it is time for Congress to act.”
“Therefore, it is our hope that the House will address this important issue in upcoming virus relief or end-of-year legislation,” wrote Rep. Burgess and his colleagues.