Tips for Stress free life  >  Expert Zone   > Depression

       Depression Tips by experts


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:

See the complete list of Articles on Depression here

Have a look at Best Selling Books on Depression

 

Google

See also : Other articles on

Depression, Grief Loss, Happiness, Humor, Inspirational, Motivation,
Positive Attitude
,  Meditation, Spirituality

Latest info on : Depression

 


USA Today

Teenage Depression is at the Heart of the Movie
ABC News
The film is energized by amazing action sequences, special effects and Pattinson's stunningly good looks, but teenage depression is at the heart of the ...
New Moon: Five reasons the movie beats the bookDallas Morning News
'Twilight' fans approve of 'New Moon' filmManila Bulletin
Kevin Carr's Weekly Report Card for 11.20.09Film School Rejects (blog)
University News (subscription) -MovieViral -Examiner.com
all 4,702 news articles »


Washington Post

Baseball attendance drops 6.7 percent
The Daily News Online
Selig said final figures for this year are still being calculated and everyone is living in the most difficult economic times since the Great Depression. ...
Baseball still faces tough economy: commissionerReuters

all 463 news articles »


PhysOrg.com

Child asthma, mother's depression linked
United Press International
20 (UPI) -- Maternal depression may aggravate a child's asthma but how often a child had symptoms did not seem to affect the mother's symptoms, ...
Maternal depression may aggravate childhood asthmaTimes of India

all 26 news articles »


Momlogic.com

Woman Loses Sick-Leave Benefits for Depression Thanks to Facebook Pics
PsychCentral.com
Nathalie Blanchard, a 29-year-old IBM employee from Quebec, took a long-term sick leave from her job after being diagnosed with major depression. ...
Facebook Photos Cause Woman to Lose InsuranceMyFox Phoenix
Woman loses sick pay over Facebook photosCanada.com
Insurers using Facebook to investigate claimantsV3.co.uk
E Canada Now -The Next Web
all 50 news articles »


Trying to define binge eating disorder
Los Angeles Times
Binge eating was long seen by psychiatrists as an unusual symptom of major depression or an anxiety disorder. ...

and more »


New York Daily News

Atty seeks psych care for Mo. teen murder suspect
The Associated Press
A teenager accused of killing a 9-year-old neighbor should be sent to a psychiatric hospital because she shows signs of severe depression and anxiety, ...
Atty seeks psych care for Mo. teen murder suspectWLOS
Troubled Teen Faces Gruesome ChargesCourthouse News Service
Teen has history of mental health issuesJefferson City News Tribune
Fulton Sun
all 957 news articles »


Times Online

Little hope of depression lifting as England head into match with All Blacks
Times Online
For what it is worth, and Martin Johnson is not one to concern himself with statistics, should England lose to New Zealand at Twickenham this afternoon then ...

and more »


Books about civil war, Great Depression win Cdn Children's Literature Awards
The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Books about civil war and the Great Depression have won Canadian Children's Literature Awards. "The Bite of the Mango," written by Mariatu Kamara ...

and more »


Why Grandma Should Get Online
FOXNews
Hence, they are less susceptible to depression. "Considering that depression costs the US economy about $100 billion annually, Internet use for the elderly ...

and more »


Silicon Valley jobless rate rises to 11.9 percent
San Jose Mercury News
The picture was a grimmer for the state, which was smacked with a post-Great Depression unemployment rate high. California's October unemployment rate hit ...

and more »

Google News

Why not be an expert yourself  ?

 If you can write on any of the above topic, you are welcome to submit your
 articles in our database :

 Submit your article here   Our Article Area

 

You are here Home > Tips for Stress free Life > Expert Zone > Depression


| Depression Home | Depression Tips - Complete list 

| Main Home | | Meditation Corner

                |Health Tips  | Workplace Tips  | Soul Tips  |Expert Zone  |

Recommend us  |

 Books, DVDs and accessories on meditation & yoga  |

[About us] [Contact] [Privacy Policy]

Copyright 2006, Meditation is Easy.com, All rights reserved