Source: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title15-chapter102&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2019-09-17 15:08:58
Document Index: 521866866

Matched Legal Cases: ['§7601', '§2', '§12', '§1', '§7602', '§3', '§7603', '§4', '§7604', '§5', '§7606', '§7', '§7607', '§8', '§2301', '§7608', '§9', '§7609', '§10', '§7610', '§11']

[USC02] 15 USC Ch. 102: FAIRNESS TO CONTACT LENS CONSUMERS
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15 USC Ch. 102: FAIRNESS TO CONTACT LENS CONSUMERS
CHAPTER 102—FAIRNESS TO CONTACT LENS CONSUMERS
§7601. Availability of contact lens prescriptions to patients
When a prescriber completes a contact lens fitting, the prescriber—
(2) shall, as directed by any person designated to act on behalf of the patient, provide or verify the contact lens prescription by electronic or other means.
A prescriber may not—
(2) require payment in addition to, or as part of, the fee for an eye examination, fitting, and evaluation as a condition of providing a copy of a prescription under subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) or verification of a prescription under subsection (a)(2); or
(3) require the patient to sign a waiver or release as a condition of verifying or releasing a prescription.
(Pub. L. 108–164, §2, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024.)
Pub. L. 108–164, §12, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2028, provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter and provisions set out as a note below] shall take effect 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 6, 2003]."
Pub. L. 108–164, §1, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024, provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter and provisions set out as a note above] may be cited as the 'Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act'."
§7602. Immediate payment of fees in limited circumstances
(Pub. L. 108–164, §3, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024.)
§7603. Prescriber verification
(a) Prescription requirement
A seller may sell contact lenses only in accordance with a contact lens prescription for the patient that is—
(b) Record requirement
A seller shall maintain a record of all direct communications referred to in subsection (a).
When seeking verification of a contact lens prescription, a seller shall provide the prescriber with the following information:
(1) Patient's full name and address.
(2) Contact lens power, manufacturer, base curve or appropriate designation, and diameter when appropriate.
(3) Quantity of lenses ordered.
(4) Date of patient request.
(5) Date and time of verification request.
(6) Name of contact person at seller's company, including facsimile and telephone number.
(d) Verification events
A prescription is verified under this chapter only if one of the following occurs:
(1) The prescriber confirms the prescription is accurate by direct communication with the seller.
(2) The prescriber informs the seller that the prescription is inaccurate and provides the accurate prescription.
(3) The prescriber fails to communicate with the seller within 8 business hours, or a similar time as defined by the Federal Trade Commission, after receiving from the seller the information described in subsection (c).
(e) Invalid prescription
If a prescriber informs a seller before the deadline under subsection (d)(3) that the contact lens prescription is inaccurate, expired, or otherwise invalid, the seller shall not fill the prescription. The prescriber shall specify the basis for the inaccuracy or invalidity of the prescription. If the prescription communicated by the seller to the prescriber is inaccurate, the prescriber shall correct it.
(f) No alteration
A seller may not alter a contact lens prescription. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the same contact lens is manufactured by the same company and sold under multiple labels to individual providers, the seller may fill the prescription with a contact lens manufactured by that company under another label.
(g) Direct communication
As used in this section, the term "direct communication" includes communication by telephone, facsimile, or electronic mail.
(Pub. L. 108–164, §4, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2024.)
§7604. Expiration of contact lens prescriptions
A contact lens prescription shall expire—
If a prescription expires in less than 1 year, the reasons for the judgment referred to in subsection (a)(3) shall be documented in the patient's medical record. In no circumstance shall the prescription expiration date be less than the period of time recommended by the prescriber for a reexamination of the patient that is medically necessary.
As used in this section, the term "issue date" means the date on which the patient receives a copy of the prescription.
(Pub. L. 108–164, §5, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2025.)
§7606. Prohibition of certain waivers
A prescriber may not place on the prescription, or require the patient to sign, or deliver to the patient a form or notice waiving or disclaiming the liability or responsibility of the prescriber for the accuracy of the eye examination. The preceding sentence does not impose liability on a prescriber for the ophthalmic goods and services dispensed by another seller pursuant to the prescriber's correctly verified prescription.
(Pub. L. 108–164, §7, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2026.)
§7607. Rulemaking by Federal Trade Commission
(Pub. L. 108–164, §8, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2026.)
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty—Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 93–637, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2183, as amended. Title I of the Act is classified generally to chapter 50 (§2301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2301 of this title and Tables.
For effective date of this chapter, referred to in text, see section 12 of Pub. L. 108–164, set out as an Effective Date note under section 7601 of this title.
§7608. Violations
Any violation of this chapter or the rules required under section 7607 of this title shall be treated as a violation of a rule under section 18 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this chapter in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this chapter.
(Pub. L. 108–164, §9, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2026.)
§7609. Study and report
The Federal Trade Commission shall undertake a study to examine the strength of competition in the sale of prescription contact lenses. The study shall include an examination of the following issues:
(1) Incidence of exclusive relationships between prescribers or sellers and contact lens manufacturers and the impact of such relationships on competition.
(2) Difference between online and offline sellers of contact lenses, including price, access, and availability.
(3) Incidence, if any, of contact lens prescriptions that specify brand name or custom labeled contact lenses, the reasons for the incidence, and the effect on consumers and competition.
(4) The impact of the Federal Trade Commission eyeglasses rule (16 CFR 456 et seq.) on competition, the nature of the enforcement of the rule, and how such enforcement has impacted competition.
(5) Any other issue that has an impact on competition in the sale of prescription contact lenses.
Not later than 12 months after the effective date of this chapter, the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission shall submit to the Congress a report of the study required by subsection (a).
(Pub. L. 108–164, §10, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2026.)
For effective date of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), see section 12 of Pub. L. 108–164, set out as an Effective Date note under section 7601 of this title.
§7610. Definitions
(1) Contact lens fitting
The term "contact lens fitting" means the process that begins after the initial eye examination and ends when a successful fit has been achieved or, in the case of a renewal prescription, ends when the prescriber determines that no change in prescription is required, and such term may include—
(A) an examination to determine lens specifications;
(B) except in the case of a renewal of a prescription, an initial evaluation of the fit of the lens on the eye; and
(C) medically necessary follow up examinations.
The term "prescriber" means, with respect to contact lens prescriptions, an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or other person permitted under State law to issue prescriptions for contact lenses in compliance with any applicable requirements established by the Food and Drug Administration.
(3) Contact lens prescription
The term "contact lens prescription" means a prescription, issued in accordance with State and Federal law, that contains sufficient information for the complete and accurate filling of a prescription, including the following:
(B) Date of examination.
(C) Issue date and expiration date of prescription.
(D) Name, postal address, telephone number, and facsimile telephone number of prescriber.
(E) Power, material or manufacturer or both.
(F) Base curve or appropriate designation.
(G) Diameter, when appropriate.
(H) In the case of a private label contact lens, name of manufacturer, trade name of private label brand, and, if applicable, trade name of equivalent brand name.
(Pub. L. 108–164, §11, Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2027.)