Amy* relies on repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS or TMS) to avoid spiralling into a severe depressive state or having suicidal thoughts.
It costs her between $10,000 and $20,000each year and at times she has had to be admitted to hospital in order to receive acute courses of the treatment.
She saysshedoesnot respond well to antidepressant medication, leaving the magnetic treatment as her only real option.
"TMS is crucial," Amy told ABC Radio Brisbane.
"It has been the best thing that has held me for the last few years after having some really big depressive episodes and being back in hospital."
rTMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The treatment is often prescribed by psychiatrists when other medications used to manage depression have not worked.
Supplied: Black Dog Institute
From November 1, the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) will cover the prescription and treatment mapping by a psychiatrist, an initial course of up to 35 rTMS treatment sessions, a review of treatment, and a re-treatment of up to 15 sessions,for people over 18 who have been diagnosed with medication-resistant major depressive disorder, a spokesperson from the Department of Health said.
Under this funding model, existing patients like Amy, who receive rTMS regularly, will miss out and have to continue paying the full cost of treatment or be admitted to hospital to receive it.
Amy, who has battled major depressive disorder for almost 20 years, saw results after receiving acute courses of rTMS and now manages her mental health by having regular maintenance treatments at $280 each.
"I went back to having it twice a week and then once a week," she said.
"I'm looking at moving into fortnightly but it really depends on how my mood is going for how frequently I have it."
Amy, a healthcare worker, said the treatmentsplus the rTMS psychiatrist feesadded up very quickly and she hadto pick up extrashifts at work to pay for thetreatment so she could stay well.
"I've literally spent nights just in tears for the fact that I will pick up extra shifts at work and I worked full time to be able to fund my own treatment," Amysaid.
"I function very well in the community and I think I perform quite highly in my job, but having to pick up an extra shift at work to be able to fund your own treatment, is really, really frustrating."
Professor Paul Fitzgerald, a professor of psychiatry at Epworth Healthcare and Monash University, has lobbied for almost a decade to getrTMS treatment covered under the MBS.
Professor Fitzgerald said he was happy to see recognition of the value of the treatment but had "mixed feelings" about how the funding would be rolled out.
Supplied
"It's important to state we haven't seen the final implementation and the actual guidance and the actual item numbers, but all the indication we have is that the way it will be implemented will have some not insignificant limitations which, ultimately, we still need to do a lot of work to overcome," he said.
"It looks like Medicare will also have a clause that if you have previously had treatment, you won't be eligible [to receive Medicare-funded treatment] and I'm not quite sure of the rationale for that.
"I certainly think it's somewhat unfair and ... I don't really think there is any scientific reason why if you've had one course of TMS, why you should be denied having it again in the future."
In a response to questions about why existing patients would not receive subsidised treatment, a spokesperson from the Department of Health said the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) had considered the use of rTMS as a maintenance treatment for major depressive disorder.
"It found there was a clinical need for initial treatment and a retreatment course, however, did not support ongoing treatment due to the limited evidence base," a departmental spokesperson said.
Unsplash: Anthony Tran
Professor Fitzgerald said it had been frustrating to see rTMS treatment evaluated by standards that werenot applied to other equivalent treatments which were funded.
"An example that directly relates to depression, is you can have as many courses ofelectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for recurrent episodes of depression as you might need, but there isn't the evidence supporting those," hesaid.
"We are going to have a lot of patients who have a successful initial course of treatment, and perhaps some second treatment, but who are then kind of caught because they can't get a treatment when their depression comes back in the future."
Professor Fitzgerald said he was also concerned about the rationale to only fund 15 sessions for the retreatment, which he said was based on strict clinical studies that indicated the average number of treatments needed the second time around was 15.
Patients say a treatment for major depression is changing their lives, but it isn't funded through Medicare and is restricted to those who can afford it.
"So, if the average patient needed 15 treatments, that means half the patients needed 15 or less and half the patients needed 15 or more," he said.
"Anywhere up to half the patients are not going to have enough treatment, that second time around."
Acute courses of TMS are covered if you are a hospitalinpatient, which Amy has been in the past under her private health cover.
Professor Fitzgerald said while therestrictions placed around the funding were likely to avoid costs blowing out, the government was not taking into account the current cost hospitalisation was putting on the healthcare system.
"I think what that equation fails to take into account, is that there is already an enormous cost being spent, and an unnecessary cost being spent, on patients being admitted into hospital environments," he said.
Because rTMS is not yet listed on the MBS, the Department of Health said it did not have the data to know what the cost of treating rTMS patients as inpatientswason the public health system.
* Name has been changed to protect identity.
Here is the original post:
- Despite currently being unprofitable, EDAP TMS (NASDAQ:EDAP) has delivered a 52% return to shareholders over 5 years - Simply Wall St - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- BrainsWay Expands Deep TMS Access in Israel Following Significant Increase in Reimbursement Rates - GlobeNewswire - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- Mastery Logistics Systems partners with Transflo to integrate Workflow AI with MasterMind TMS to deliver a ... - Business Wire - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- New form of magnetic brain stimulation spells hope for patients with treatment-resistant depression - The Straits Times - April 18th, 2024 [April 18th, 2024]
- Port of Oakland's new TMS provides real-time insights for truckers - CCJ - February 5th, 2024 [February 5th, 2024]
- TMS Taps Michelson To Oversee Global Talent Development 01/02/2024 - MediaPost Communications - February 5th, 2024 [February 5th, 2024]
- 11.24% CAGR Growth in Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Market by Solution (on-premise and cloud-based ... - PR Newswire - February 5th, 2024 [February 5th, 2024]
- MileMaker announces partnership with Turvo to bring advanced TMS - TheTrucker.com - The Trucker - February 5th, 2024 [February 5th, 2024]
- Transportation Management Software & Solutions - Who are the Major Players in the Indian Market? - India Shipping News - February 5th, 2024 [February 5th, 2024]
- Neural effects of TMS trains on the human prefrontal cortex | Scientific Reports - Nature.com - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- What to know about TMS and how it can treat mental health issues - News3LV - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Neuronetics lands FDA clearance for TMS therapy accessory - Medical Device Network - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Neurobiological mechanisms of ECT and TMS treatment in ... - BMC Psychiatry - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Mishimoto Partners with Redwood Logistics for Seamless TMS ... - Supply Chain Dive - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- 3 benefits of integrating WMS and TMS software - TechTarget - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Trinium and BlueCargo join forces to increase resiliency and agility ... - American Journal of Transportation - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Psychiatrist Convicted of Billing Medicare and Private Insurance ... - Department of Justice - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- FreightPOP TMS Application Earns Acumatica Certification - PR Web - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- AML RightSource Offers Support for Transaction Monitoring System Selection and Integration - Global Banking And Finance Review - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- TMS therapy: The cloud hanging over me was gone - WellSpan Health - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Depression Relief: Brain Signal Reversal by Magnetic Pulses - Neuroscience News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- HWS CENTER LAUNCHES TMS THERAPY, BRINGING CUTTING-EDGE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT TO NEW JERSEY - EIN News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Incoming TMS students take tours of site - Yahoo News - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Passion Drives TMS Titanium's Todd Harrison - Drag Illustrated - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- EDAP TMS S A : Positive results from two studies reconfirm safety ... - Marketscreener.com - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Shiba Inu (SHIB) Whale Purchasing Into The TMS Network (TMSN ... - Analytics Insight - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- TMS Coils Market 2023 Business Growth and Opportunities with Top ... - Cottonwood Holladay Journal - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- The Top Cryptos To Buy In 2023 - Arbitrum, Polygon and TMS Network - Analytics Insight - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Accelerated delivery of transcranial magnetic stimulation is safe and effective - Newswise - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Polygon (MATIC) and Solana (SOL) Drop by 10%, While TMS ... - Crypto Reporter - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- VeChain (VET) & Curve DAO Token (CRV) Investors Diversify Their ... - Analytics Insight - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- As Cardano (ADA) Stumbles And Dogecoin (DOGE) Falters, TMS ... - UseTheBitcoin - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Nexstim's Quality System and NBS 6 Receive MDR - GlobeNewswire - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Uniswap (UNI) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) Underwater as Crypto Looks ... - The Merkle Hash - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- NeuroStim TMS Celebrates Landmark Achievement, Delivering Over 100,000 TMS Treatments Upon Reaching Five Year Anniversary - Yahoo Finance - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Modeling the antidepressant treatment response to transcranial ... - Nature.com - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- USD Coin (USDC) & Optimism (OP)'s Investors Are Aping Into TMS ... - Analytics Insight - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- TMS Network (TMSN) Presale Gains 2400%: Optimism (OP) and ... - Analytics Insight - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- The Best Anime By TMS Entertainment - GameRant - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- TMS Network (TMSN) Predicted To Pass Shiba Inu (SHIB) And Stacks (STX) In Popularity Within A Year | - Bitcoinist - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Towering Over Solana (SOL) and Dogecoin (DOGE), TMS Network (TMSN) Takes the Crown | Bitcoinist.com - Bitcoinist - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Market Corrections Push Cardano (ADA) and Polygon (MATIC ... - Analytics Insight - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Chainlink vs TMS Network vs TRON : One of them With Deliver ... - The Coin Republic - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- PCS Software Named a Preferred Partner as Kuebix TMS Sunsets - Benzinga - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Could Musk Suit Have Negative Impact on Dogecoin (DOGE) and ... - Crypto Reporter - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- The Future of Logistics: How Technology is Revolutionizing the ... - Robotics and Automation News - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Baru Gold Designated "National Vital Object" and Updates ... - Junior Mining Network - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Early Bird offer for TMS Awards - The Maritime Standard - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- St Helen's Hospital patient says many are 'devastated' by its imminent closure - ABC News - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) | Sibley Memorial Hospital in ... - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Psychiatry | Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Want To Win Big? Experts Suggest To Choose TMS Network (TMSN) Over Arbitrum (ARB) And Polygon (MATIC) | - Bitcoinist - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- TMS Network (TMSN) AI Infrastructure Will Give You 100x Returns, Way Better Than SingularityNET (AGIX) And - Bitcoinist - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- TMS: What It Felt Like for Me I Psych Central - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- Are we in a recession? Crypto giant Bitcoin and Ethereum stall out while TMS Network makes its mark - FXStreet - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- Are GameFi coins like SHIB and Decentraland (MANA) as good of a long term investment as TMS Network? - FXStreet - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- Launch of New Tron (TRX)-powered AI on the Way, Doritos Launches Project on Polygon (MATIC) While TMS Network (TMSN) Brings New Hopes for Brighter... - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- What is a Transportation Management System? | Oracle - January 31st, 2023 [January 31st, 2023]
- TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation): What It Is - January 19th, 2023 [January 19th, 2023]
- HC Wainwright Adjusts Price Target on EDAP TMS S.A to $12 From $11, Maintains Buy Rating - Marketscreener.com - November 21st, 2022 [November 21st, 2022]
- Breakthrough in brain stimulation offers cautious hope for depression - Harvard Health - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- Life-changing treatment program in Ohio expanding for veterans and first responders - WTRF - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Over 60% Of Pokemon Fans Are Most Excited For This Feature In Scarlet & Violet - SVG - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Radaro and NorthStar Digital Solutions partner to solve industry-wide process gaps in LTL & TL transportation - PR Newswire - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Avalanche Technology and TMS-Elektronik Announce Representation Agreement for the Republic of Turkey - PR Web - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Global Talent Management Software (TMS) Market Report 2022: A $25+ Billion Market by 2027 - Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunities and... - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- A Foreword to Adam Smith's The Theory of Moral Sentiments - Independent Institute - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Deutsche Telekom to buy 100% electric company cars from 2023 - www.electrive.com - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- What Happens in the Brain During Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation? - Technology Networks - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- TMS and SIS to vie for soccer championship - Saipan Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Soterix Medical Announces award of Fast Track NIH grant to develop a Parcel-Guided software to improve efficacy of rTMS treatment for Depression - PR... - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Interview: Kindra Neely Talks Healing Through Art and Personal Hope in 'Numb to This' - The Mary Sue - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Local veteran finds success with TMS therapy | Local News | thenewsenterprise.com - Elizabethtown News Enterprise - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Racin' Today Everything's Big In Texas Including Criticism Of TMS - RacinToday.com - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Start over from scratch: Race weekend at TMS stirs up track reconfiguration rumors - The Dallas Morning News - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- $28 Billion Transportation Management System Markets - Global Forecast to 2027: Increasing Demand for TMS to Tackle High Demand from e-Commerce -... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- EDAP TMS Hosting Urology Expert Panel and Live Focal One Technology Demonstration - GlobeNewswire - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Reddick prevails in wild race that sees record number of yellow flags at TMS - Denton Record Chronicle - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- e2log and Wipro Discuss How Technology Accelerates Logistics Engines That Drive Global Supply Chains at Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo 2022 EMEA -... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulators Market Size And Forecast To 2022 |eNeura BrainsWay Ltd., MagVenture, Nexstim Plc, TMS Neuro Solutions, Magstim The... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]