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Neuronetics Announces Positive TMS Coverage Policies to Expand Patient Access to NeuroStar TMS Therapy for Mental Health
Proposed Medicare Coverage through First Coast and Novitas MACs Will Reduce Number of Medication Trials for TMS Eligibility MALVERN, Pa., July 11, 2022 (GLOBE
About this update from Neuronetics, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Proposed Medicare Coverage through First Coast and Novitas MACs Will Reduce Number of Medication Trials for TMS Eligibility\nMALVERN, Pa., July 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Neuronetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: STIM), a commercial stage medical technology company with a strategic vision of transforming the lives of patients whenever and wherever they need it with the best neurohealth therapies in the world, today announced a series of recent healthcare policy updates that increase patient access to NeuroStar Advanced Therapy for Mental Health transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious issue that affects 21 million adults in the United States, with 6.4 million people being underserved by antidepressant medication. NeuroStar TMS is a non-drug treatment that can help alleviate the burden of drug-resistant depression. First Coast and Novitas Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) have proposed policy updates to local coverage determination (LCD) that would reduce the number of prior medication failures for TMS eligibility from four down to one for people suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). An additional proposed change would remove the requirement for a previous psychotherapy trial. The comment period for these proposals will close on July 23, 2022, after which time Centers for Medicaid & Medicare (CMS) will make a decision about the final policies. First Coast coverage area includes two million Medicare beneficiaries, more than 74,000 physicians and 247 hospitals that serve Medicare patients in FL, PR and USVI. Novitas coverage includes over eight million covered lives in CO, NM, TX, OK, AR, LA, MS, PA, NJ, MD, DE, and DC. “Now more than ever, people need access to safe, proven mental health treatments. NeuroStar’s efficacy continues to be validated through data collected and analyzed from our proprietary outcomes registry, and this informs treatment best practices for providers and coverage decisions for payers,” said Keith J. Sullivan, President and CEO of Neuronetics. “The NeuroStar Health Policy Team continues to tirelessly advocate and educate NeuroStar practices on how we can work together to effect changes in coverage. It is a reflection of this partnership with our customers and a positive sign that commercial and government payers are updating policy requirements to allow gre...