How Does the Contact Lens Fairness Act Work?
April 28th, 2010 | See the Top Answers to this Question Below
Ive had so many issues with the opiticians at a new doctors office I went to(including I amproper fitting, being overcharged, being pressured into buying contacts right away, being misscheduled twice). When I called to find out about my script and my 2nd fitting appointment today(which is confusing – they called me Rebecca, scheduled me in as Erin, not today but 2 days ago meanwhile my name is completely different then both of those and my card says thurs not tues but thats a whole nother story) the lady who fitted me said they would not give me my perscription on paper – that it had to be requested by fax. It doesnt matter since I need to switch contacts (brands?) anyways since these contacts arent working for me, but I want to be able to get the perscription on paper if I need it.
Does this (them not giving me the script on paper) violate the contact lens fairness act, and if so, what can be done about it?
I called to find out what brand they gave me because I was having problems so I could know what NOT to request at my follow up. They told me the brand and said I could buy them at their office anytI ame. Then her exact quote was "We will not give you a written perscription, if you decide to seek purchase outside of our office the place you go to must request it by fax only" she went on to say I should buy them in their office.
They also originally begged me NOT to do a follow up appointment and said it was a waste of my tI ame. I made one anyways.
Also, the process was definitely (in my opinion) not done. I had the contacts on for 2 minutes total when she tried topressure me into buying 1 year.
More Contact Lens Websites:
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- EXCLUSIVE The Paycheck Fairness Act: Now an Economic Imperative – WMC Blog
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Posted in Contact Lenses | 
Tags: contact lens, doctors office, fairness act, fitting appointment, perscription, rebecca, waste of my time, whole nother story
By law, a doctor has to give you a written copy of your contact prescription after you have completed a successful follow up. If they refuse, tell them you want your money back for the contact lens fit and take your eyeglass prescription and see another eye doctor. If they don’t want to give you a refund for that, report them and demand a full refund.
technically they must release a written copy of your Rx when the fitting process is completed. the jibe about "must be requested by fax" is untrue…are you sure thats really what they said?
that being said…as annoyed as you are by this, its going to be very, very difficult for you to call them out on it by using the contact lens fairness act. near impossible. as soon as you make a stink, they’re just going to say the fitting process was never completed. they are only required to release an Rx if the fitting process is completely done. the contention is usually …what constitutes "done"?
thats the most common way this comes up at our office…some patient demands their Rx but they have not come in for their follow ups or have never been seen with the trials on, etc. but if the fitting process has been completed and they are ready to sell you boxes as you say they are, then they are technically required by law to release your contact lens rx.
for the record, i never, ever liked the high pressure sales pitch to buy a years supply at the doc’s office right then & there. we dont do it, but most private practices do. its distasteful to me
Since they are asking you to buy they are A) Saying that you are fully fitted which would require them to give you a copy or B) Selling C.L.’s to someone who doesn’t have a perscription and there by breaking Federal Law….you have your rights and don’t let them bully you!