| |
| |
|
Depression Information |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
What About Drugs for Anxiety and Depression? As a counselor, I am often asked, "Can drugs be helpful for anxiety and depression?" The answer I give is "Yes" and "No."Yes, drugs may be useful for short-term help. How to Overcome Anxiety and Take Repossession of Your Life! Katie came as close as is possible to having it all. Great job, loving family, boyfriend, social life? That was until she developed anxiety?"There were rumours of redundancy in our department. Depression in Long Term Care Heart Patients Often Goes Untreated Cardiologists, other doctors and long term carestaff might be missing the big picture as one survey suggeststhat only a third of heart disease patients with serioussymptoms of depression or anxiety get any treatment.The findings are significant because psychological problems havebeen linked to poorer health and higher death rates in heartdisease patients. Your Daily Struggle With Depression If you have been diagnosed with depression or feel that you are dealing with depression on a daily basis, you may feel that depression is consuming your life. You worry about everything. Major Depression and Its Serious Complications When suffering from clinical depression, people have different ways of confronting it. Some acknowledge it, face it just like any problem, and seek help. Everyday I have the Blues: A Medical Intuitive look at Depression It may come in waves, it may control our lives. Depression is something that many of us struggle with. 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. Depression Many of us feel depressed at one time or another, but for some, depression may be chronic and even debilitating.Emotions are a normal part of our life. So You've Been Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder? If you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) you are not alone. It has been estimated that over 2 million people in the United States suffer from this form of mental illness which involves episodes of both mania and depression. 5 Super Effective Tips To Kill Depression 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 uspasses away. 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 actionsnecessary to accomplish somethingin everyday life.Depression is a mental state that"almost freezes" a person into noaction at all. Seven Steps to Good Mental Health Psychological well-being is something that we all have a right to. However, for a variety of reasons to do with upbringing, life experiences, physiology, environment and so on? we often find ourselves with a mind-state other than what we desire. Senate Finance Committee Delays FDA Approval of Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Depression On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that the U.S. 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. Wellbutrin For Depression: When Its More Than Just The Blues We all have blue days:We're missing someone we've lost, the expected promotion didn't come through, we've exhausted ourselves over the holidays. But when these feelings continue for a long time and begin to interfere in your life, you may have an illness that doctors call major depressive disorder (or depression). Major Symposium About Vagus Nerve Stimulation & Depression at the American Psychiatric Association A major symposium about vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent depression will be presented at the American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting in May. This is the largest gathering of psychiatrists in the world and over 25,000 psychiatrists will be in attendance. Depression: 14 Universal Laws for Recovery The Law of BlueJust sort of feeling blue, kinda out of it, gets confused with being depressed. We all get the blues from time to time, and they pass. Dont Be Surprised! Life wasn't easy for cave men. They had to hunt all day, kill their dinner with a club, and drag the carcass to the cave. Depressed? Wise Woman Ways Offer a Helping Hand Winter time is depression time for many women. Perhaps it is harder to look at the bright side when days are short, perhaps the holidays and family demands take their toll on us. 5 Ways to Transform Your Struggles Into Victories Have you read the famous quote, "Every struggle is a victory"? It was stated by an extraordinary person who overcome great challneges and achieved greatness - her name was Helen Keller.In this brief article we will explore 5 key aspectsfor turning your Struggles into Victories.
|
|
Home | Site Map | 101InfoLinks.com | Best Book Shop | Sports Fans ONLY 
.
|
| © 2007 |
