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Thursday, March 27, 1997

Bill would allow contact lens patients full access to prescriptions

By JUAN B. ELIZONDO Jr.

Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN (AP) - Nearly 70 percent of Texas eye doctors won't release contact lens prescriptions to their patients, forcing them to buy their lenses from the doctors, according to a new report.

Rep. Glen Maxey, D-Austin, says that's unfair. A bill he's pushing to require doctors to release the prescriptions - or give a written explanation as to why they won't - cleared the House Committee on Public Health Wednesday.

The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

"There's both an ability to shop around and get a better price and a huge convenience issue here," Maxey said.

The bill says eye doctors can withhold prescriptions from their patients if they have serious medical problems that need special attention. First-time contact lens patients also could be refused their prescription if they need to see their doctors again for follow-up treatment.

"We've put the protections in here. The only thing left is going to be who makes the money," Maxey said. "Optometrists and ophthalmologists know we're not going to buy that."

Fred Niemann, an attorney for the Optometric Association, said he believes the Consumers Union report about doctors who don't release prescriptions is inaccurate. He said most doctors the association deals with release prescriptions.

"There are some cases - in which for medical reasons - it's not appropriate to release prescriptions," Neimann said.

Lisa McGiffert, a policy analyst for Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office, said the group based its study on a survey of Texas eye doctors. She said doctors who responded ambiguously when asked whether they release prescriptions and doctors who said they release prescriptions only in certain cases were counted among those that don't release prescriptions.

"We responded as consumers would," Ms. McGiffert said. "I'd say to a consumer if the doctor gave an ambiguous answer or said only in some cases, steer away from that doctor."

Maxey, whose district includes the University of Texas, said many students who leave home for school have to return home to their eye doctors in order to get prescriptions refilled or contacts replaced.

"This would allow that college student to ask for his prescription and get lenses where ever he is. The hassle factor is huge," Maxey said.

According to the Consumers Union report, the price of replacing a pair of contacts can range from $40 to $140 at doctors' offices.

"This myopic practice by eye care doctors results in higher costs and inconvenience for consumers," Ms. McGiffert said. "It's about time they put profit and self interest aside and allow consumers the freedom to shop around for the best deal."

Niemann said he doesn't believe profit have anything to do with withhold prescriptions.

"We think this will be good for consumers in economics as well as in health," he said. Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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