booklover
02-07-2007, 11:38 AM
Please! Please! Please! Take action on this post. VNS (Vegus Nerve Stimulation) is a procedure to help patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). It is a last hope for many of us. While the chance of 50% or more improvement is only 30% with this treatment that is 600% higher than the 5% rate without the procedure. Qualifications for the procedure are TRD for more than two years and failure to respond to at least 4 medications. In reality most of the VNS recipients are more like me. I have tried 34 different medications, ECT, psychotherapy, and over 20 hospitalizations lasting as long as 7 and a half weeks. Without the hope of VNS working I am not sure I would be here today. I was fortunate enough to be implanted January 26th and after a year and a half of appealing insurance denials I was finally approved my medicaid of IL. I may be one of the last patients to have this choice. Although the FDA has approved VNS for depression since July of 2005 Medicaid/medicare has just published an advisory suggesting nonapproval of the procedure. They are continuing to OK the procedure for Epilepsy even though the % improvement is almost identical. This is outright discrimination against the mentally ill. It is also fiscally irresponsible. In just 2006, for example, I spent 83 days in inpatient hospitalization. At $1,200 a day that is $99,600 that medicaid has paid in one year. By paying for the procedure at approx. $30,000 they would save $69,000. If I were able to reduce my medications, which are currently abouut $900 a month that would be an additional savings. Finally if the procedure worked well enough that I could return to work I would be off of medicaid (and SSDI) altogether.
OK, I've rambled long enough. What can be done about the denial? CMS (the department that handles medicare and medicaid) is accepting public comment until March 7th on their suggestion. Please respond and ask all your friends and families to respond urging a reversal o their position. Here is all the information you need to respond.
February 6, 2007
Dear Advocate,
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has now published a Request for Public Comment on a Draft National Coverage Policy for VNS Therapy for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The Draft National Coverage Policy proposes non coverage of VNS Therapy for TRD. This position will deny access to the only FDA-approved treatment for TRD for Medicare beneficiaries, and potentially some Medicaid beneficiaries.
The Public Comment Period offers you the opportunity to respond to this proposed position by CMS. Comments that are most meaningful to CMS include:
Your knowledge of and any experience with TRD;
Any observations or experience you have had with VNS Therapy for patients with TRD;
Your opinion regarding the proposed CMS non coverage position; and
Your position regarding parity in access for patients with TRD.
Your comments may be submitted electronically. Go to www.VNSTherapy.com to access the link to CMS, or go to the CMS website directly at the following website address:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewnca.a...ket&nca_id=195
Or you may submit comments by mail:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Att: Beverly A. Lofton, MHA
Ref: NCA for Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Resistant Depression (TRD) (CAG-00313R)
C1-09-06
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244
Please note that the Comment Period will end on March 7, 2007.
We appreciate your interest regarding access to treatment with VNS Therapy
Thank you and God Bless, Annmarie
OK, I've rambled long enough. What can be done about the denial? CMS (the department that handles medicare and medicaid) is accepting public comment until March 7th on their suggestion. Please respond and ask all your friends and families to respond urging a reversal o their position. Here is all the information you need to respond.
February 6, 2007
Dear Advocate,
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has now published a Request for Public Comment on a Draft National Coverage Policy for VNS Therapy for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The Draft National Coverage Policy proposes non coverage of VNS Therapy for TRD. This position will deny access to the only FDA-approved treatment for TRD for Medicare beneficiaries, and potentially some Medicaid beneficiaries.
The Public Comment Period offers you the opportunity to respond to this proposed position by CMS. Comments that are most meaningful to CMS include:
Your knowledge of and any experience with TRD;
Any observations or experience you have had with VNS Therapy for patients with TRD;
Your opinion regarding the proposed CMS non coverage position; and
Your position regarding parity in access for patients with TRD.
Your comments may be submitted electronically. Go to www.VNSTherapy.com to access the link to CMS, or go to the CMS website directly at the following website address:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewnca.a...ket&nca_id=195
Or you may submit comments by mail:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Att: Beverly A. Lofton, MHA
Ref: NCA for Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment of Resistant Depression (TRD) (CAG-00313R)
C1-09-06
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244
Please note that the Comment Period will end on March 7, 2007.
We appreciate your interest regarding access to treatment with VNS Therapy
Thank you and God Bless, Annmarie