Medicare Blog

how to get medicare to cover ketamine infusion theapy

by Miss Luisa Pouros DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Does insurance cover ketamine infusion?

While most insurance companies do not cover ketamine infusions for chronic pain at this time, we are optimistic that as the scientific community continues to study the benefits of ketamine on chronic pain this will change in the future. A four-hour ketamine infusions therapy session costs around $1,600.

Is ketamine considered a hard drug?

Some drugs do not fit perfectly as either a soft or hard drug and have characteristics of both. Examples for such drugs are MDMA (known as Ecstasy/Molly), ketamine, PCP (phencyclidine), DXM (dextromethorphan), synthetic cannabis (known as Spice or K2), and caffeine.

Does Medicaid cover ketamine infusions?

With this arrangement, your Medicare/Medicaid or other insurance provider is billed for every test and procedure covered each time you visit your doctor. Many ketamine clinics will work with Medicare/Medicaid plans, but their coverage does not extend to the actual drug or its handling and infusion.

Is ketamine treatment covered by health insurance?

The Toronto-based company said it had established direct billing practices with Medavie Blue Cross, a health insurance provider, that will cover 100% of the costs of ketamine treatments at Braxia’s Canadian Rapid Treatment Centre of Excellence (CRTCE).

Does Medicare Cover Ketamine Infusions?

Medicare makes a lot of services more affordable for Americans. But does medicare cover ketamine infusions? Unfortunately, it does not at this time. However, this will hopefully change in the future. Plus, medicare might cover some other non-infusion parts of your treatment.

What About Private Insurance?

Most private insurance companies will only cover ketamine as an anesthetic, which means ketamine therapy does not qualify. However, there are other parts of the process, such as visits with the doctor and medical monitoring, which may be covered. We will work with your insurance company to make your treatment as affordable as possible.

Is Ketamine Therapy Worth It?

This is the big question. If ketamine treatment isn’t covered by my insurance, is it even worth it? We understand that you might want to try a treatment that is covered by your insurance first. However, ketamine therapy has been proven effective when other treatments have failed.

Affording Ketamine Therapy

As a clinic, we work to make ketamine infusions affordable to as many people as possible. Our small team works directly with both patients and suppliers, which helps us keep treatment at a fair price. We also accept a wide variety of payment options and can even set up payment plans.

Every Situation is Unique

Not sure if you can afford ketamine therapy? Give us a call. Every patient’s situation is different, which means the cost of therapy can vary from person to person. We would love to meet with you so that we can assess your needs and give you an accurate estimate for your treatment.

How much does it cost to treat depression?

For the treatment of depression, a patient may undergo 4 treatments over the course of 1 to 2 weeks, or 6 treatments over 2 to 3 weeks, at an average cost of $400 to $800 per treatment.

Does insurance pay for ketamine?

Since insurance providers do not pay for ketamine itself, many clinics bill your plan partly for the treatment while you pay the remaining cost. The total amount payable by you and your insurance will depend on the type of condition being treated and the number of sessions to undergo.

Does Medicare cover spravato?

While as a result of its off-label status, private insurance and Medicare/Medicaid coverage for ketamine infusion treatments and the medical appointments for SPRAVATO™ will most likely be denied. The nasal spray medication used in SPRAVATO™ is currently covered by every major insurance provider in-network.

Is ketamine infusion therapy expensive?

However, a course of treatment over a series of infusions can be quite expensive, causing many patients to reach out to their insurance providers to determine how much coverage they may have.

Does Medicaid qualify for CHAMPVA?

State or federally funded (Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare, CHAMPVA) do not qualify.

Is IV ketamine FDA approved?

While we do celebrate excellent success rates treating mental health conditions such as depression, suicidal ideation, and post-traumatic stress disorder, using iv ketamine to treat mental health conditions is considered “off label” and thus, not FDA approved. We can provide a superbill for our mental health patients but ultimately, we are currently unable to bill insurance directly for that protocol of treatment.

Does KWC cover ketamine infusion?

While KWC cannot guarantee coverage or payment of any charges or treatment costs by the patient’s insurance, I can certainly provide a prospective patient with a clearer view of whether they may qualify to have your ketamine infusion treatments covered by your insurer.

Why Doesn't Insurance Cover Ketamine?

As mentioned before, the benefits behind ketamine for mental health struggles are relatively new discoveries. The FDA has yet to approve ketamine infusions for mental health, although this is hopeful to change as the FDA recently approved ketamine nasal spray medication for depression.

How Much Do Ketamine Infusions Cost?

The exact cost of ketamine infusion therapy varies due to the highly individualized nature of the medication. For example, if you are receiving initiation treatments for depression, there will be 4 treatments in total and the ketamine doses will be monitored depending on your needs.

Financial Payment Plans for Ketamine?

Advance Care has been trusted for years providing financing options for patients seeking psychiatric treatments and a myriad of other medical treatments not currently offered under insurance plans such as orthodontics work and cosmetic work. The card has many benefits, such as:

Ready to get started?

Ketamine infusions should be available to everyone, and we here at Virginia Infusion Therapy want to help bring this revolutionary treatment to those who need it most. We would love to hear from you and help you build a better life with ketamine infusions!

Get a Free Consultation Today

Phone consultations only take about 15 minutes with a doctor from Virginia Infusion Therapies. Learn more about how ketamine solves for 70% of depression patients and can solve for you.

How to Get Your Ketamine Treatment Reimbursed by Health Insurance Companies

A few simple steps ease the process of getting your Ketamine Infusions reimbursed by health insurance companies.

Ready to see if Ketamine can help you?

We are an Evidence-Based Center of Excellence and the leading provider of Ketamine Infusions, IV Infusions and Ketamine Consulting Services for Ketamine Clinics and IV Therapy Clinics.

What is the name of the medication that is used to treat depression?

One such medication is esketamine which was recently approved by the FDA for use as a nasal spray to treat this serious form of depression. Esketamine is the generic name of a type of medication included in the class of receptor antagonists, or NMDAs.

Does Medicare cover esketamine?

Medicare Coverage for Esketamine. Esketamine as a treatment for depression in adults is relatively new in the United States. Since 2019, when it was approved for use by the FDA for treatment-resistant depression, people have been paying an average of $4,700.00 to $6,800.00 for their initial month of the nasal spray.

Does Medicare Cover Home Infusion Therapy?

Medicare typically covers many expenses related to home infusion therapy. To qualify for coverage, you must:

What Is Home Infusion Therapy?

Home infusion therapy is the term for receiving a drug intravenously at home. Depending on the type of medication, a needle or a catheter will be used. The therapy allows you to undergo treatment for a medical condition or illness at home rather than in a hospital setting.

What Conditions May Require Home Infusion Therapy?

Some conditions that may require home ongoing infusion therapy include:

Which Part of Medicare Covers Home Infusion Therapy?

With Original Medicare, home infusion therapy falls under Medicare Part B. Medicare classifies the supplies needed for treatment as durable medical equipment. Under Medicare Part B, your plan pays for 80% of the cost of home infusion therapy. The remaining 20% of expenses related to home infusion therapy are your responsibility.

What Will Medicare Part B Cover for Home Infusion Therapy?

Medicare Part B typically covers all the supplies required for home infusion therapy, such as:

Do Medicare Supplement Plans Cover Home Infusion Therapy?

Medicare Supplement or Medigap plans help to pay for out-of-pocket costs not covered by Medicare Part B. However, these plans generally do not cover home infusion therapy.

Do Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Home Infusion Therapy?

Medicare Advantage Plans must cover at least as much as Original Medicare. Your plan is likely to pay for the same supplies, medications and services for home infusion therapy described above. Plans may opt to cover more than Original Medicare.

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