Part of our commitment to the U.S. eye care community is advocating for policies that prioritize patient safety.
This includes two recent federal decisions of which practices should be aware of in the new year.
FTC Contact Lens Rule Delay
Congress has instructed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to delay implementation and enforcement of new Contact Lens Rule amendments until March 31, 2021. This decision came in part from educational outreach undertaken by the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety (APS) of which CooperVision is a founding member.
While this move does not change the Rule’s new provisions, ECPs now have additional time to ensure their practices are compliant. Even if you have already made necessary adjustments, the next several weeks can be used to fine tune and reinforce processes with staff.
CooperVision has published a series of straight-forward steps for you to take will continue to advocate for additional action to prevent potentially harmful, inaccurate contact lenses from being shipped to patients, such as modernization of the passive verification process through the elimination of robocalls.
Anti-Counterfeit Measures
Owing to our stringent internal manufacturing and distribution controls, CooperVision products have not been significantly impacted by counterfeit issues. However, we strongly believe that preserving ECP and consumer trust in lenses from all manufacturers is essential for a positive doctor-patient relationship.
That’s why we are proud to have supported the Safeguarding Therapeutics Act, which was signed into law on January 5. This amends the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to refuse entry into the United States of counterfeit devices. The FDA can also destroy counterfeit medical devices, including contact lenses, worth $2,500 or less.
We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with the Health Care Alliance for Patient Safety, the Contact Lens Institute, American Optometric Association and ECPs across the nation regarding issues important to our profession and patients.
To discuss these recent policy decisions or to share your opinions regarding advocacy opportunities, please reach out to Dr. Michele Andrews, Vice President of Professional & Government Affairs.
