If you have an interest in supporting Nouveau Vision in their complaint against Essilor and VSP, feel free to use the form letter below to voice your support to Washington State, Federal, or your own State officials.
RE: Potential Anti-Trust Violations in the Vision Care Industry
Dear [public official(s)],
As an eye care professional concerned for patients’ needs, I have observed a worrisome trend of consolidation and possible collaboration among dominant corporate entities in the vision care industry. The largest manufacturer of ophthalmic lenses in the world, French-owned Essilor, is acquiring independent U.S. laboratories at an alarming rate and now owns interest in more than 50% of the lens processing capacity in the U.S. A significant percentage of the remaining independent laboratories are distributors of Essilor products and controlled by overly restrictive contracts as a requirement for distributorship. These contracts explicitly prohibit Essilor “partner” laboratories from promoting or even comparing competitors’ products to Essilor’s unless stating Essilor products are superior, regardless of patient need. Since vision care providers rely on laboratories for recommendations in selecting the most appropriate products for their patients, these contracts significantly inhibit consumer choice. Moreover, contract restrictions place undue dependence of otherwise independent businesses, across an entire industry, on a single corporation, reducing competition.
VSP, the nation’s largest managed vision care company also owns laboratories across the U.S. This year VSP decided to cancel a number of contracts with independent laboratories to the apparent benefit of Essilor. The loss of revenue from VSP may put some independent laboratories out of business and reduce competition for Essilor. Nouveau Vision in Redmond, Washington, has filed complaints with the FTC and State of Washington authorities, against Essilor and VSP, for unfair trade practices and possible collusion.
I am deeply concerned about the direction being taken by dominant entities in the vision care industry. When two or three companies move in the direction of taking over an entire industry and dictate their products be recommended above all others regardless of patient need, not only will independent businesses suffer as choices erode, but so will vision care consumers.
I support the action of Nouveau Vision taken against Essilor and VSP in the State of Washington and strongly urge investigation into unfair trade practices within the vision care industry in the State of ____________ (and/or nationwide).
Sincerely,
Name
Position
Business
City, State-or-
Anonymous for fear of reprisal
City, State
Here is a list of officials you may wish to contact:
Honorable Christine Gregoire
Governor of the State of Wasington
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002
Tina E. Kondo
Antitrust Division Chief
Washington State Attorney General’s Office
800 5th Avenue, Suite 2000
Seattle, WA 98104-3188
Honorable Mike Kreidler
Insurance Commissioner
Office of the Insurance Commissioner
P.O. Box 40257
Olympia, WA 98504-0257
Stuart W. Hirschfeld
Northwest Region
Federal Trade Commission
915 Second Ave., Room 2896
Seattle, WA 98174
Senator Tom Coburn
172 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-5754
Fax: 202-224-6008
Senator Max Baucus
280 E Front Street, Ste 100
Missoula, MT 59802
406-329-3123; fax 406-728-7610
Christine Varney
Main Justice Building
950 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
email antitrust@usdoj.com
ph 202-514-2401; fax 202-616-2645
Mr. Donald S. Clark
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20580
Government officials from your own State