NOCE Laws and Professional Standards Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient's adult child calls the optical dispensary to ask for the patient's prescription details to order glasses online.
The patient's file has no specific authorization to release information to this individual.
According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), what is the most appropriate action for the optician?

Accepted Answer

Inform the caller that without the patient's written consent, they cannot release protected health information.

Answer

Provide the prescription details over the phone to be helpful.

Answer

Mail a copy of the prescription to the patient's home address upon request.

Answer

Tell the child to have the patient call and provide verbal authorization over the phone.

Question 2

According to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Eyeglass Rule, a prescriber must provide the patient with a copy of their prescription under which of the following conditions?

Accepted Answer

Immediately after the refraction is complete, regardless of whether the patient asks for it.

Answer

Only after the patient has paid for the examination in full.

Answer

Only if the patient does not intend to purchase glasses from the prescriber.

Answer

After the patient signs a waiver releasing the prescriber from liability for glasses made elsewhere.

Question 3

Which of the following tasks typically falls outside the legal scope of practice for a dispensing optician in the majority of US states?

Accepted Answer

Performing a refraction to determine a new prescription.

Answer

Neutralizing a patient's current lenses to determine their power.

Answer

Adjusting the pantoscopic tilt of a frame to improve vision.

Answer

Taking a patient's pupillary distance measurement.

Question 4

A patient wants to purchase a one-year supply of their soft contact lenses. Their prescription on file expired two weeks ago. What is the legally required course of action for the optician?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to dispense any lenses until the patient provides a new, unexpired prescription.

Answer

Sell them a single box to last until they can see their doctor.

Answer

Renew the prescription for one year based on their previous history.

Answer

Dispense the lenses after the patient signs a liability waiver.

Question 5

An optician is verifying a pair of prescription safety glasses intended for a factory worker. To meet the ANSI Z87.1 standard for high-impact resistance, which marking must be present on the lenses?

Accepted Answer

A '+' symbol.

Answer

The manufacturer's logo.

Answer

The letter 'S' for 'Safety'.

Answer

The Z87-2 mark.

Question 6

An optician measures a patient's pupillary distance (PD) and finds it is 4mm different from the PD written on the prescription provided by the doctor's office. What is the most ethical and professional first step to take?

Accepted Answer

Contact the prescribing doctor's office to respectfully verify the measurement and note the discrepancy.

Answer

Use the PD from the prescription to avoid questioning the doctor's authority.

Answer

Use the PD measurement taken in the dispensary, assuming the other is a clerical error.

Answer

Split the difference between the two measurements to minimize potential error.