Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

New FDA Approved Therapy for Depression: Timeline from Prescription to Procedure


On July 18, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approved vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic depression. On August 18th, I was a part of a conference call hosted by the manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator.

According to Company officials, it is going to take a long time for reimbursement to reach universal coverage by third party payers at the overall policy level. The procedure was just approved by the FDA. Insurance companies are giant bureaucracies with many layers of people whose only job is to say "NO". It is just a fact of life that reimbursement will take time to "grind" through the system.

That is why I devoted an entire eighteen page chapter of my book to insurance codes and the reimbursement process. The Patient Advocate Foundation gave me permission to reprint its guide to the insurance reimbursement and appeal process. The Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization that serves as an active liaison between the patient and their insurer.

The manufacturer of the stimulator reiterated on its conference call on August 18th, that insurance coverage will be on a case-by-case basis. In the first two weeks of the official launch, there has been a wide variance by third party reimbursers for VNS Therapy and depression. On a case by case basis, some patients have able to obtain to get pre- approval by Medicare, the VA and private insurance companies. At the other extreme, some reimburers have said absolutely not, maybe, we need to think about it, etc. The Company indicated that the more that patient's fight for reimbursement, the better chance they have to obtain approval.

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. The treatment completely changed his life. 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 late May. It is available on his web site, 24 hours a day/7 days a week through the toll free number 1-888-VAGUS-88, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. He is founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com Web Site.


MORE RESOURCES:

Depression - Google News

Zac Efron loses kid brother, slips into serious depression, and still retains... - Philly2Philly.com


Los Angeles Times

Zac Efron loses kid brother, slips into serious depression, and still retains...
Philly2Philly.com
Zac Efron loses kid brother, slips into serious depression, and still retains flawless skin in 'Charlie St. Cloud' By Jim Teti at 2:51 am on Friday July 30, ...
Zac Efron gives a shout out to TWLOHA supportersHollywoodnews.com
Nonprofit screens Zac Efron movie tonightFlorida Today

all 880 news articles »

Visiting Obama deserves credit for saving GM, Chrysler - Detroit Free Press


Visiting Obama deserves credit for saving GM, Chrysler
Detroit Free Press
... Obama will tout the federal rescues of General Motors and Chrysler as bold moves that staved off another Great Depression and saved thousands of jobs. ...

and more »

Perry wants federal disaster aid for 21 counties - Houston Chronicle


News 8 Austin

Perry wants federal disaster aid for 21 counties
Houston Chronicle
... seeking a presidential disaster proclamation for 21 Texas counties hard-hit by flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Alex and Tropical Depression 2. ...
Perry requests disaster declaration from ObamaKCBD-TV
Gov. Perry Disaster DeclarationKGNS

all 47 news articles »

Gingrich: Obama Repeating Mistakes From the Great Depression - NewsMax.com


Gingrich: Obama Repeating Mistakes From the Great Depression
NewsMax.com
"This was exactly the mistake made in 1937 and 1938, and it created a second mini-Depression. I think it's very dangerous, and I think the simple battle cry ...

and more »

A Portrait of Depression - New York Times


New York Times

A Portrait of Depression
New York Times
Opening with a sobering quotation from Andrew Solomon's 1998 confession of suicidal depression in The New Yorker, “Helen” dives into ...

Key data will shed important light on path of recovery - MarketWatch


Key data will shed important light on path of recovery
MarketWatch
At the moment, the current recession is the deepest since the Great Depression. It started in the third quarter of 2008 when Lehman Brothers collapsed and ...

and more »

So Did We Really Avert The Second Great Depression? - The Business Insider


So Did We Really Avert The Second Great Depression?
The Business Insider
The old adage about it being a recession if your neighbor is out of work and a depression if you are out of work is, I think, particularly apt these days. ...
Economist say we narrowly avoided another Great DepressionCreative Loafing (blog)

all 2 news articles »

Federal Recovery Efforts Saved 8.5 Million Jobs, Stopped Depression - Progressive States Network (blog)


TopNews Singapore (press release)

Federal Recovery Efforts Saved 8.5 Million Jobs, Stopped Depression
Progressive States Network (blog)
... loosening of the money supply, and federal stimulus funds for states and individuals, helped stop a far worse potential full-out Depression that would ...
Study argues stimulus, other action averted second Great Depression; others ...Washington Post (blog)
Blinder, Zandi Say US Bailouts Likely Averted a DepressionBloomberg
Federal efforts avoided a depression, economists concludeKansas City Star
Seattle Times -Firedoglake (blog) -New York Times
all 82 news articles »

The New New Deal: Public Money for Private Jobs - New York Times (blog)


New York Times

The New New Deal: Public Money for Private Jobs
New York Times (blog)
During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration paid jobless Americans to build public bridges and paint public murals; in the wake of the ...
Job Subsidies Also Provide Help to Private SectorNew York Times
Does Direct Government Stimulus Create Private Sector Jobs?The Atlantic

all 16 news articles »

BP oil spill update: Bonnie now Tropical Depression: Still holding up oil ... - Examiner.com

DietRight Domain Is For Sale - $10,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.DietRight.biz 2010

home | site map | links

 

eXTReMe Tracker