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CooperVision removes some contacts from UPP, cites Utah act
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CooperVision is discontinuing a Unilateral Pricing Policy for three of its products, effective immediately.
MyDay, Clarity 1-day and Biofinity XR toric brands, as well as customer brands where applicable, will no longer be in the company’s Unilateral Pricing Policy (UPP) program, according to a letter to U.S. customers from Jerry Warner, President of the Americas for CooperVision Inc. The company is maintaining the UPP for Biofinity Energys.
The UPP was developed as a short-term program to provide incentives for eye care professionals to evaluate new contact lens technologies and to educate patients about breakthrough lenses, Warner explained.
Eye care providers (ECPs) have responded and accomplished these goals, according to letter. MyDay, Clarity 1-day and Biofinity toric lenses are now widely available and well established, and the company believes that UPP has accomplished its purpose regarding these lenses.
The UPP encourages ECPs to continue learning about Biofinity Energys, investing time for provider and wearer education and doing so in an economically sensible manner, according to Warner.
The announcement also mentioned the Contact Lens Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits the application of UPP to Utah retailers. The legislation creates a situation in which ECPs in other states, abiding by UPP, may be undercut by Utah-based online contact lens sellers, Warner said.
These pricing inequities reduce the effectiveness of CooperVision’s UPP, he said.
The recent federal appeals court ruling upholding Utah’s law contributed to the decision to limit the UPP, and CooperVision will continue to be selective in adopting or maintaining it, he said.