Latest News LegitScript Launches iCareRx Online Optical Retailing Certification Program By Staff Monday, March 2, 2015 12:27 AM PORTLAND, Ore.—LegitScript launched an online optical retailing certification program today that the internet compliance firm developed in conjunction with members of several U.S. professional vision-related associations and leading optical retailers and suppliers, as first reported by VMail, Nov. 24, 2014. The program is the first of its kind to focus on online eyeglass sellers. The voluntary iCareRx program was created to certify optical e-tailers for adhering to standards related to eyeglasses prescription verification, transparency regarding the identity of the owner/operator of internet websites, and customer/patient privacy protection, according to John Horton, president and founder of LegitScript. Based here and in Dublin, Ireland, LegitScript is already involved with certification programs for internet pharmacies and with efforts connected to product classifications related to dietary supplements, bodybuilding supplements, and drugs.The new iCareRx certification standards are modeled after the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program conducted by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. LegitScript and the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which represents pharmacy regulators in the U.S. and Canada, estimate that the internet pharmacy market has only 3 percent of participants operating legally. "We do not see the same extreme level of problematic behavior in the prescription eyeglasses market, but there are definitely some internet sellers of prescription eyeglasses that are not complying with the laws and regulations designed to protect patients," said Horton. The program initially targets the U.S. market, and any entity offering to sell prescription eyeglasses to U.S. residents is eligible for the program. LegitScript will proactively monitor and identify all prescription eyeglasses sellers active in the U.S. market, and internet users will be able to search LegitScript’s website to determine whether a website that sells eyeglasses is classified as “legitimate,” “unverified” (a neutral descriptor) or “unapproved.” “We've already identified and uploaded 105 URLs for internet eyeglass sellers that we'll be monitoring, and that number will be growing over the next several weeks and months,” Horton told VMail. “Of these, the vast majority are ‘unverified,’ which is simply a neutral descriptor meaning that we haven't immediately identified any illicit activity, but they aren't certified, either. As time goes on, these will gradually parse out in to ‘legitimate’ (for those that are approved), ‘unapproved’ (for those that additional monitoring shows problematic behavior) and a smaller group that remain ‘unverified’ (the neutral descriptor). We have designated four as ‘unapproved.’” While the ongoing program costs will be borne by applicants who will pay fees for application/review and annual certification/licensing, the following nine organizations contributed to support the start-up fees for the program: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Optometric Association, National Association of Optometrists and Opticians, National Association of Vision Care Plans, Eyemart Express, Luxottica, National Vision Inc., Walmart and Ditto.com, according to Horton. “In all segments of the online health care market, there are some legitimate actors and, unfortunately, those that put profits above patient safety,” said Horton. “It’s important that patients know which are which to avoid receiving a substandard product or a prescription-only product without a verified and valid prescription.” For more on ECPs and the changing landscape of e-commerce, click here.