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Insurance Reimbursement for Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression
I attended the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Conference at the manufacturers' (Cyberonics) headquarters in Houston, TX in late July. The Conference presenters included senior management, psychiatric thought leaders and study investigators from the investigational clinical trial. In this article , I will limit the discussion to the question that I am asked most often; will insurance companies or Medicare cover vagus nerve stimulation for depression? Third Party Reimbursement I had received several e-mails from patients, who had the implant prior to final FDA approval and their insurance covered all or most of the procedure. These were isolated cases, but I think it is worth noting. The presenter for this portion of the Conference was Shawn Lunney, Vice President, Market Development and Engineering. Will third party payers reimburse VNS Therapy for depression? Shawn's answer was yes, but it will take some time and vary policy by policy. Three main issues:
In my book, Out of the Black: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression, I list all of the coverage codes as well as guidance (with help from The Patient Advocate Foundation) as to the reimbursement process. The reimbursement fundamentals for VNS Therapy related procedures are very solid. "Coverage in epilepsy is virtually universal; coding is clear, adequately describes the procedures performed and provides reasonable payment for services rendered by all providers"-Cyberonics Shawn made a very interesting statement: "Medicare is the great equalizer". Medicare fully covers VNS Therapy for epilepsy and reimburses approximately $24,500. The procedure is identical for epilepsy as it is for depression. I got the impression that publication of the study results in peer reviewed Journals is critical. The studies have already been accepted in prestigious journals such as Biological Psychiatry and Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Psychiatrists are just beginning to receive the VNS Depression Kit. The Kit will include an overview of vagus nerve stimulation and reimbursement support materials. I think that initially approval will be on a case-by-case basis and gradually expand to the overall policy level. If your psychiatrist prescribes VNS for your condition, you will be assigned a case manager. The case manager will help you with further patient education as well as referrals to surgeons trained in the implant procedure. Enter discount code FDAYES (all caps) and save 25% off the cover price of the book and get free shipping via U.S. Postal Priority Mail. The discount code applies only to orders placed on this site or through the 24 hour/7 days a week 1-888-VAGUS-88 toll-free number. You can purchase the book on this Web Site, at 1-888-VAGUS-88, or you can purchase the book directly from Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com. You will need a prescription from your psychiatrist for vagus nerve stimulation therapy. A surgeon will implant the pacemaker-like device in your upper left chest. There is much for you to learn about this treatment option. Do yourself a favor and try to start now. You have suffered long enough. I wanted the implant as soon as possible. And I was fortunate enough to get the implant four and a half years ago.
I will publish another article about the outstanding Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Conference that I attended. There was just too much information to put in just one article. By now, I hope that you have tried to schedule an appointment with your psychiatrist. As I have written many times, if you do not get the correct diagnosis, you won't get right treatment. GP's simply do not have the depth of knowledge to treat patients with complicated or difficult mental illnesses. You can learn more about this remarkable treatment at http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com There is a free electronic newsletter to keep you up-to-date. Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book: Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression The book was exhibited at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting in May. It is available on his web site and 24 hours a day/7 days a week through the toll free number 1-888-VAGUS-88. He is founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com Web Site.
At the UW: Understanding our lean times by studying the real hard times - Seattle Post Intelligencer
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Alternative Medicine Biological Psychiatry Confirms of Efficacy and Safety of VNS Therapy for Depression The September 1, 2005 issue of Biological Psychiatry confirmed the efficacy and safety of vagus nerve stimulation for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued its final approval of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for depression. Suicide Prevention: 12 Universal Laws The Law of Permanence Depression Series: Why Don't I Respond to Medications? (Part 1) Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and a half years. About three years ago, her husband of 20 years left her for another woman. Devastated, she became despondent and tearful almost daily. Aspartame and Your Mental Health In 1965, a chemist working to develop an ulcer drug accidentally discovered a substance 200 times sweeter than sugar. The FDA initially shunned this substance because it caused seizures and brain tumors in lab animals. I Love You, I Hate You But Dont Go: Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder It amazes me that 6-10 million Americans have been diagnosed with this isolating disorder. What's amazing about this is that not much is written about BPD much less talked about. Almost like there is a stigma attached to the very name. Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Treatment for Depression to be Launched in May Final FDA approval of vagus nerve stimulation as a therapy for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression to be issued in May. Psychiatrists will then officially be able to prescribe this remarkable, life changing therapy for patients. Depression: Based on a True Story "Ring, ring." The crisis operator answers the phone to a woman pleading to let her daughter know that she loves her. The woman spent her day writing letters to friends and loved ones, expressing her thoughts and emotions. From the loaded gun on the table to the rope hanging from the attic, it was a well-thought out plan (Lewis, Pamela, 2003). It Aint Easy Being Brave A zoo attendant entered a lion cage carrying only a broom. He casually swept with no concern for the wild animal. He even poked the big cat with his broom. The lion hissed at him and moved to another corner of the enclosure. An onlooker remarked "You certainly are brave." The sweeping man chuckled and said, "I ain't brave, that old cat ain't got no teeth." Disability is NOT a Life Sentence On September 30th 1998 I was crossing the street in a crosswalk when a young man ran through a red light running me over at 40 mph. He dragged me down the street as he tried to leave the scene of the accident. Depression - Causes and Treatments Depression has long been considered a character flaw indicative of morally weak minded individuals. However, new research clearly shows that depression has distinct biochemical roots that affect the way nerve cells work. It is an illness which can be accurately diagnosed and treated successfully in the vast majority of cases. Through the recognition of causes and knowledge of the treatments, those suffering from depression are able to preserver and overcome their illness. Depression-My Story What is depression? 5 Surefire Tips to Beat Depression Now Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives... We get sad when we fail in our exams, when we're rejected by the person we love, or when someone very close to us passes away. 7 Things You Can Do Immediately To Ease Depression 1. Get out now and walk fifteen minutes. It will get your feet moving and help you feel you are at least able to do something. Depression The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer of this but found no such evidence or behavior. The same was true for all other mental or medical conditions, so they think 'witch' covers my condition in life; because I refuse to participate in the materially managed environment any more. We will not explore the horrors of the current forms of Inquisition in great detail in this book as it relates to me. That would definitely be too serious and intense, as I would explain society's role in tortures such as I witness all around me every day. I have been thwarted in devious gambits by those who have something even worse than the strait-jacket as we have seen Drs Breggin and Cohen describe in 'Science'. They call it (appropriately) 'pharmacological lobotomies'. ECT is even more disgusting and joins Ritalin in a campaign which social forces are developing in this control paradigm. It seems relevant to point out enough of the matter of my experience so that you will know you are getting it pretty close to what they say when they use the phrase 'the horse's mouth'. 25% of Americans Suffer From a Mental Illness and do Not Get Adequate Relief From Antidepressants According to the June 7th issue of the Wall Street Journal, more Americans are seeking treatment for mental illnesses than ever before, but most of them fail to get adequate care, according to a major new government study. Learn To Take Control of Depression While depression is a growing epidemic in western society, it remains to be one of the most treatable as well. While the medical profession looks first to medication, I believe only the most severe cases require any long-term medical treatment. When Your Fears and Depression Have the Best of You What do you do when your fears and depression are stronger than what you can handle? There are times that no matter what you do, your fears have the best of you. Here is a list of techniques and suggestions on what to do when this happens. Depression and Procrastination: Twins in the Job Search My definition of procrastination is that a person delays and delays actions that are required by a job or actions necessary to accomplish something in everyday life. First Thing You Should Do to Get Out of Depression Depression, in psychiatry, is a symptom of mood disorder characterized by intense feelings of loss, sadness, hopelessness, failure, and rejection. The two major types of mood disorder are unipolar disorder, also called major depression, and bipolar disorder, whose sufferers are termed manic-depressive. 5 Way Tips To Manage Depression Being lonely is a normal share of our everyday lives. We get sad when we fail in our exams, when we are rejected by the individual we love, or even when someone extremely close to us passes away. Depression, however, might be even more calamitous than just plain loneliness. It may render life-long effects that may ruin your self-esteem, health, and well-being.
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