Charge for Paper Prescription??

[Belle & Ariel]

DH just had a visit with an eye doctor. At the conclusion he was asked if he wanted to pay $39 for a paper copy of the prescription to buy his contacts elsewhere. I remember hearing of this being illegal--they want you to buy from them at five times the price.
Is this legal?

 

[Alesia]

How much did he pay for the eye exam?

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Our copay was $50. Insurance covered the rest.

 

[Marionnette]

DH just had a visit with an eye doctor. At the conclusion he was asked if he wanted to pay $39 for a paper copy of the prescription to buy his contacts elsewhere. I remember hearing of this being illegal--they want you to buy from them at five times the price.
Is this legal?

No. Your prescription is YOURS, not theirs to keep. Complain to your insurance company and watch how quickly they change their tune about charging you!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have many friends that are eye doctors, I am going to ask about this. Interesting. I don't have insurance so I have to pay out of pocket. The exam is around 59 dollars. I could not afford to pay extra for that. It seems crazy.

 

[tvguy]

From this website: http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2009/07/optometrist-or-optician-holding-your.html

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission enforces the so-called "Eyeglass Rule" which requires eye doctors to provide their patients (stop thinking of us as "customers") "one copy" of the prescription at the end of the eye exam.

If you EVER get any attitude or have your prescription held against your will CALL the Federal Trade Commission at 202-326-3528 or 1-877-FTC-HELP.

Here is the statute:

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
PART 456--OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE RULES--


Sec. 456.2 Separation of examination and dispensing.

It is an unfair act or practice for an ophthalmologist or optometrist to:

(a) Fail to provide to the patient one copy of the patient's prescription immediately after the eye examination is completed.

Provided: An ophthalmologist or optometrist may refuse to give the patient a copy of the patient's prescription until the patient has paid for the eye examination, but only if that ophthalmologist or optometrist would have required immediate payment from that patient had the examination revealed that no ophthalmic goods were required;

(b) Condition the availability of an eye examination to any person on a requirement that the patient agree to purchase any ophthalmic goods from the ophthalmologist or optometrist;

(c) Charge the patient any fee in addition to the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's examination fee as a condition to releasing the prescription to the patient. Provided: An ophthalmologist or optometrist may charge an additional fee for verifying ophthalmic goods dispensed by another seller when the additional fee is imposed at the time the verification is performed; or

(d) 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 ophthalmologist or optometrist for the accuracy of the eye examination or the accuracy of the ophthalmic goods and services dispensed by another seller.

Revised as of January 1, 1999]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR456.2]
[Page 453]

 

[tvguy]

From this website:http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2009/07/optometrist-or-optician-holding-your.html

Either way, there is no excuse for holding these prescriptions and frankly -- in the United States at least --it's against the law.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission enforces the so-called "Eyeglass Rule" which requires eye doctors to provide their patients (stop thinking of us as "customers") "one copy" of the prescription at the end of the eye exam.

If you EVER get any attitude or have your prescription held against your will CALL the Federal Trade Commission at 202-326-3528 or 1-877-FTC-HELP.

Here is the statute:

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
PART 456--OPHTHALMIC PRACTICE RULES--


Sec. 456.2 Separation of examination and dispensing.

It is an unfair act or practice for an ophthalmologist or optometrist to:

(a) Fail to provide to the patient one copy of the patient's prescription immediately after the eye examination is completed.

Provided: An ophthalmologist or optometrist may refuse to give the patient a copy of the patient's prescription until the patient has paid for the eye examination, but only if that ophthalmologist or optometrist would have required immediate payment from that patient had the examination revealed that no ophthalmic goods were required;

(b) Condition the availability of an eye examination to any person on a requirement that the patient agree to purchase any ophthalmic goods from the ophthalmologist or optometrist;

(c) Charge the patient any fee in addition to the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's examination fee as a condition to releasing the prescription to the patient. Provided: An ophthalmologist or optometrist may charge an additional fee for verifying ophthalmic goods dispensed by another seller when the additional fee is imposed at the time the verification is performed; or

(d) 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 ophthalmologist or optometrist for the accuracy of the eye examination or the accuracy of the ophthalmic goods and services dispensed by another seller.

Revised as of January 1, 1999]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 16CFR456.2]
[Page 453]

 

[scrapquitler]

DH just had a visit with an eye doctor. At the conclusion he was asked if he wanted to pay $39 for a paper copy of the prescription to buy his contacts elsewhere. I remember hearing of this being illegal--they want you to buy from them at five times the price.
Is this legal?

It might depend on the state. I know in CT they are required to give you a copy of your prescription for your glasses and contacts.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Sounds like this Dr. wants people to only purchase glasses from him.

 

[tvguy]

Sounds like this Dr. wants people to only purchase glasses from him.

It has only recently that I have gone to eye doctors that sell glasses. Always seemed like a conflict for them to sell glasses to me.

 

[mousefansmom]

I hope you change doctors....

 

[tvguy]

Just back from the eye doctor and I asked (after they had handed me a print out of my prescription) and they said it was required by Federal Law, the one I posted earlier.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

Thank you all. This was a first visit with this practice and will be the last.

 

[wilkeliza]

Just had an eye doctor do some pretty crappy stuff and it was a one and done. Paid my copay and the rest I owed in office. Today I got a letter from the insurance company with an explanation of benefits. Looks like my eye doctor claims I had eye surgery. She said I had a blocked duct and cleaned it but did not act like it was a procedure that was going to cost more or even was in the "surgery" realm. I have absolutely no clue how to handle it as I'm not sure if the eye doctor will charge me the 400 of the 500 the insurance company says they can charge or if they just billed the insurance company to get what they could out of them. I'm not paying 400 for whatever it is they claim they did simply because I wasn't even aware it was extra no was I given the ability to opt out she just said oh your allergies have caused a blocked up duct let me take care of that.

 

[Sleepy425]

Just had an eye doctor do some pretty crappy stuff and it was a one and done. Paid my copay and the rest I owed in office. Today I got a letter from the insurance company with an explanation of benefits. Looks like my eye doctor claims I had eye surgery. She said I had a blocked duct and cleaned it but did not act like it was a procedure that was going to cost more or even was in the "surgery" realm. I have absolutely no clue how to handle it as I'm not sure if the eye doctor will charge me the 400 of the 500 the insurance company says they can charge or if they just billed the insurance company to get what they could out of them. I'm not paying 400 for whatever it is they claim they did simply because I wasn't even aware it was extra no was I given the ability to opt out she just said oh your allergies have caused a blocked up duct let me take care of that.

If you have to argue it, make sure you tell the insurance company that the eye doctor did not have "informed consent." The doctor has to get approval to do things to you by first explaining the procedure and giving you an opportunity to ask questions.

 

[wilkeliza]

If you have to argue it, make sure you tell the insurance company that the eye doctor did not have "informed consent." The doctor has to get approval to do things to you by first explaining the procedure and giving you an opportunity to ask questions.

I went to pick up my contacts tonight so asked about it. They said just ignore the EOB because they don't back bill what I paid in office is what I will pay. Seem weird that my insurance company says I should have paid over 400 when they only charged me 125 including 180 contacts.

 

[supersnoop]

I went to pick up my contacts tonight so asked about it. They said just ignore the EOB because they don't back bill what I paid in office is what I will pay. Seem weird that my insurance company says I should have paid over 400 when they only charged me 125 including 180 contacts.

That's called fraud. They billed the insurance, which paid them for a service they didn't perform. But the patient doesn't notice or care, because you're not out any extra money.

 

[wilkeliza]

That's called fraud. They billed the insurance, which paid them for a service they didn't perform. But the patient doesn't notice or care, because you're not out any extra money.

I mean I do care but I have no clue how to go about reporting them. I also feel like it could open a can of worms because when I questioned it they said well we actually charged you less for you contact fitting because our store only charges 90 for walk ins when you should have paid 90% of the non-walk in price. It is one of those situations with how badly I was treated I am worried to poke the hornets nest.

 

[supersnoop]

I mean I do care but I have no clue how to go about reporting them. I also feel like it could open a can of worms because when I questioned it they said well we actually charged you less for you contact fitting because our store only charges 90 for walk ins when you should have paid 90% of the non-walk in price. It is one of those situations with how badly I was treated I am worried to poke the hornets nest.

Which is exactly how they get away with it.

 

[SMD]

Just had an eye doctor do some pretty crappy stuff and it was a one and done. Paid my copay and the rest I owed in office. Today I got a letter from the insurance company with an explanation of benefits. Looks like my eye doctor claims I had eye surgery. She said I had a blocked duct and cleaned it but did not act like it was a procedure that was going to cost more or even was in the "surgery" realm. I have absolutely no clue how to handle it as I'm not sure if the eye doctor will charge me the 400 of the 500 the insurance company says they can charge or if they just billed the insurance company to get what they could out of them. I'm not paying 400 for whatever it is they claim they did simply because I wasn't even aware it was extra no was I given the ability to opt out she just said oh your allergies have caused a blocked up duct let me take care of that.

Did she actually flush your tear duct? I had it done a few years ago and it was done in a surgical room and I was sedated. I would question what procedure she performed.