Stop FTC’s Paperwork Rule and Outlaw Sales …



Advocacy Information for AOA Doctors, Students and Paraoptometric Staff – Oct. 6, 2020Contact: Matt Willette, AOA Director of Congressional Relations703.837.1001 | mwillette@ Take Action Now: Stop FTC’s Paperwork Rule and Outlaw Sales RobocallsINITIAL CALLS TODAY: Through the U.S. Capitol switchboard, 202.224.3121, make two separate phone calls to your state’s two senators. The purpose of both calls is to provide information on the immediate importance of the bipartisan Contact Lens Rule Modernization Act (S. 4613) and officially request that the senator join as a co-sponsor, a public indicator of support for the bill. POSSIBLE MESSAGE POINTS FOR DISCUSSION WITH SENATE AIDES:INTRO FOR DOCTORS:Thank you for taking my call. My name is Dr. ____________. I’m a doctor of optometry providing essential eye health and vision care at [NAME AND LOCATION OF PRACTICE] a small health care practice that communities in this area count on. INTRO FOR STUDENTS: Thank you for taking my call. My name is ______________. I’m a student pursuing a Doctor of Optometry degree at _______________. I live and hope to launch my career in this state. INTO FOR PARAOPTOMETRIC PROFESSIONALS: Thank you for taking my call. My name is _______________. I am an employee of [NAME AND LOCATION OF PRACTICE] and assist in the delivery of essential eye health and vision care. MAIN MESSAGE POINTS FOR ALL:My colleagues and I across the state are committed to the health and well-being of our patients and our local communities. Since the earliest days of the pandemic, doctors of optometry like me have delivered sight-saving and lifesaving care under difficult circumstances. We have helped to safeguard public health while also doing everything we can to ease the strain faced by hospital emergency departments. Unfortunately, small health care practices are now facing a regulatory attack from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Without justification or any concern for my patients or the practice environment, this agency is demanding more paperwork and years-more of record storage through an unworkable set of mandates issued in June and due to take effect this month. At the same time, it is refusing to take action to close a robocall loophole that allows my office to be targeted with automated calls by out-of-state mass retailers. Fortunately, a bipartisan group of senators has joined together to introduce legislation to put a stop to the FTC’s scheme and provide a more thoughtful, doctor-patient centered approach. I’m calling today to inform you about this just-introduced bill – S. 4613, the Contact Lens Modernization Act – and officially request that the senator join as a co-sponsor so that it can be considered before Congress adjourns. The determination of FTC attorneys to impose unworkable paperwork and record-keeping burdens on doctors would be wrong at any time, but it is especially damaging coming in the middle of a nationwide public health emergency and a time of historic stress on our economy, especially for small health care practices. Even the agency’s own data demonstrates their new mandates are a solution in search of a non-existent problem. It’s inexcusable and dangerous for a government agency to be working to divert scarce resources away from patient care at this critical time, and it needs to be stopped. S. 4613 is strongly supported by all of America’s eye doctors – optometrists and ophthalmologists – and organizations including the American Optometric Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Again, on behalf of my patients, coworkers and colleagues across our state and our country, my request of the senator today is to join as a co-sponsor of S. 4613. It will help ensure a fair and common-sense approach to patient care and public health. If it’s ok, I would like to follow-up with you or the senator’s health care aide [request name] on this issue in a few days. Thank you for your time and for all you do in Washington, D.C., for our state. FOLLOW-UP: So that Team AOA in Washington, D.C., can assist you and help ensure that every senate office hears from optometry on S. 4613, please send a brief report on your calls to Matt Willette, AOA director of congressional relations, at 703.837.1001 / mwillette@. Guidance will be provided on timing and messaging for follow-up calls. ................
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