Cigna’s Evernorth unit is expanding coverage for Neuronetics’ therapy for depression to adolescents.
Neuronetics announced that Evernorth will offer coverage for its NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy to patients aged 15 and older who have major depressive disorder. The treatment uses magnetic pulses on different parts of the brain, offering an option for severe depression that does not have the same side effects as medication-based therapies.
Per its website, more than 195,000 people have been treated with NeuroStar TMS, with 83% seeing significant improvement in their depression and 62% reporting full readmission.
The treatment secured approval from the Food and Drug Administration for adolescents aged 15 to 21 one year ago, according to the announcement.
The company said that there is an estimated 4.3 million people in the U.S. between the ages of 15 and 21 who have major depressive disorder. There are more limited medication options for this age group, and these therapies can come with concerning side effects, including suicidal thoughts and anxiety.
Alternative therapies like NeuroStar allow patients and their families to seek out solutions beyond medication, the company said.
“This decision by Cigna/Evernorth is a significant step forward for adolescent mental healthcare and reflects the momentum we have built with payors over the past year since NeuroStar first received the FDA clearance for adolescents,” said Keith J. Sullivan, President and CEO of Neuronetics, in the press release. “We are grateful that millions more families will now have easier access to NeuroStar TMS as a proven, non-drug treatment for major depression and can get the care they deserve.”
Evernorth has invested significantly in its behavioral health segment, and it is one of the key focuses within its broader portfolio.
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