Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, , led a letter to House Leadership, with 93 bipartisan cosigners, requesting that robocall prescription verification allowed by the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Contact Lens Rule be addressed in year-end legislation.  

"Despite repeated engagement from Congress, the FTC refuses to address the dangerous practice of verifying contact lens prescriptions with robocalls,” said Burgess. 

"This Coronavirus 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.  This practice has caused many American 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, it is time for Congress to act. Congress should include a correction to this rule in any upcoming virus relief or end-of-year legislation."

To read the full letter, click here.