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35 rTMS Medicare Subsidised Sessions for Eligible Adult Patients

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35 rTMS Medicare Subsidised Sessions for Eligible Adult Patients
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SupeNintendoChalmers on 16/09/2021 - 13:51 health.gov.au (3951 clicks)
Last edited 16/09/2021 - 18:57 by 1 other user

This is absolutely HUGE news. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a proven therapy used to treat depression. Normally it costs ~$160-$200 per session, now it will be covered by Medicare.

Full government spiel below

Prioritising Mental Health – Supporting access to new therapy for major depressive disorder

The Australian Government is investing $288.5 million to introduce a new service for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) therapy to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) following recommendations from the independent Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).

This investment will ensure Australians battling major depressive disorders who are non-responsive to antidepressant medications can access this innovative Medicare-subsidised therapy. This is part of a record $2.3 billion whole-of-government Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.

rTMS is a form of localised brain stimulation therapy used to target the region of the brain involved in mood regulation and depression. It has been found to be effective in treating major depressive disorders and provides a more non-invasive option for medication resistant patients compared to the alternative – electroconvulsive therapy.

Eligible adult patients who have tried at least two different classes of antidepressant medicines but remain unwell will be able to access Medicare-subsidised rTMS therapy.

Why is this important?

Evidence shows that rTMS therapy is safe, well tolerated, and effective in treating major depressive disorders. Previously, rTMS therapy has been prohibitively expensive for Australians suffering major depressive illness. The addition of rTMS to the MBS aligns with the Australian Government’s commitment to ensure Australians are able to access affordable and safe healthcare that reflects contemporary clinical practice.

These investments are in response the National Suicide Prevention Adviser’s Final Advice and the Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Mental Health.

Who will benefit?

It is estimated that in the coming 4 years, some 90,000 Australians will be eligible for MBS subsidised rTMS therapy.

They will benefit from an initial course of up to 35 rTMS treatment sessions, with one re-treatment course of up to 15 sessions if they have relapsed after responding to the initial treatment course.

How much will this cost?

The Australian Government is investing $288.5 million* over 4 years from 1 November 2021 to 2024–25.

* This investment also appears in the Guaranteeing Medicare – MBS review and new inclusions factsheet

Health & Beauty Medicare Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

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Comments

    • rafiusks on 16/09/2021 - 14:01
      +219

      Maybe a bit more of education and empathy would be helpful for you.

      • Ghos7 on 17/09/2021 - 15:46
        -3

        same for you

        • rafiusks on 17/09/2021 - 16:02

          We all do. :)

          • Ghos7 on 17/09/2021 - 16:14
            -2

            @rafiusks: Specifically you need 'a bit more of' empathy and education. You participated in a pile on for a guy saying he would like to be able to see his family and earn money to support himself. You really are disgusting.

            • ndro777 on 17/09/2021 - 16:26

              @Ghos7: Which has nothing to do with this post.
              I mean, they can choose to support this treatment AND highlight the importance of opening the borders so they can see their family, earn money, etc. Instead they chose to deny other people's what they need. Who's disgusting now?

              • Ghos7 on 17/09/2021 - 17:34
                -2

                @ndro777: Maybe a bit more of education and empathy would be helpful for you.

            • rafiusks on 17/09/2021 - 16:48
              -1

              @Ghos7: How is his issue related to what is proposed in this "offer?"

              Mental health it is not an issue from today, nor yesterday. Thousands of australians struggle EVERY SINGLE DAY, for a variety of reasons and some, even, for no reason at all (at surface level).

              To quote the Department of Health:

              nearly 1 in 2 (46%) Australians aged 16–85 had experienced a mental disorder during their lifetime

              At some point in their lives, 13.3% of Australians aged 16-85 years have experienced suicidal ideation, 4.0% have made suicide plans and 3.3% have attempted suicide (table 8-1). This is equivalent to over 2.1 million Australians having thought about taking their own life, over 600,000 making a suicide plan and over 500,000 making a suicide attempt during their lifetime.

              To some, the only thing preventing them to have a minimal quality of life it is access to treatments like this. rTMS won't make you "happy", or make you feel "less depressed", it will give a CHANCE for some to live and try to improve from there.

              If you need more information, you will find here:

              https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/mental-hea…

              • Ghos7 on 17/09/2021 - 17:35

                @rafiusks: cool non sequitur

              • kiteo on 18/09/2021 - 18:10
                +1

                @rafiusks: Your response was the kind of dismissive arrogance that feeds into despair. You sound like a bloody ivory tower type mate, lecturing someone on "lack of empathy" and "lack of education" for expressing an opinion, a cry for help, a No-I-Am-Not-Bloody-OK about their own mental health. Disagree with someone on their political views, but don't "play the man" with your classist little moral ad hominems.

                Depression isn't just medicine for the individual. It's also the social & economic context for the individual, which much of Western medicine has glaringly ignored. By calling someone ignorant and uncaring for trying to say "this is not my issue, and it's not a lot of people's issues", that they sound sick of people saying that's all it is for all of us, a brain imbalance with a medical fix, that it's something wrong with US", you're just piling on with that bullshit.

                I don't doubt this therapy will be enormously helpful for many. I don't doubt that high coronavirus morbidity from prematurely relaxed restrictions wouldn't improve overall social wellbeing. But your response is part of the problem mate. Do better.

      • kiteo on 18/09/2021 - 18:04
        +1

        That is not an appropriate reply to someone struggling with depression, especially given that you are attempting to take the moral high ground here on this! Please educate yourself more about how to empathise with the struggles of those different from yourself, and respect how hard and complex it is for many people right now, no matter whether or not you disagree with them personally on what they think would be the most helpful for their wellbeing.

    • Kawaii on 16/09/2021 - 14:07
      +2

      Graduated 3 years and there is no job

      • mskeggs on 16/09/2021 - 14:14
        +8

        Did you take any of the advice in your past threads?

      • DKZ370 on 16/09/2021 - 14:43
        +11

        What mskeggs said. I went and had a look at your posts and it doesn't seem like you're taking on any feedback/advice.

        • Kawaii on 16/09/2021 - 14:55
          -2

          I did.

    • DKZ370 on 16/09/2021 - 14:36
      +3

      I think you would be a good candidate for a few sessions.

    • Jake D on 16/09/2021 - 14:45
      +22

      Being unhappy and having depression is not the same thing.

      • Tunblor on 16/09/2021 - 15:07
        +6

        Especially the kind of depression that this treatment is for, non-responsive to multiple steps of treatment, including at least 2 different medications. This is an alternative to electroshock therapy.

        • DoctorCalculon on 17/09/2021 - 08:00

          electroshock therapy

          Do you mean: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?

    • hippyhippy on 16/09/2021 - 14:47
      -7

      We need to save all the old people… so they might get a few more years…. screw the young people… they need to buy the old people's houses soon

      • Tunblor on 16/09/2021 - 15:08
        +5

        What?

      • Wally on 16/09/2021 - 15:13
        +1

        Boomers FTW

    • EBC on 16/09/2021 - 15:07
      +9

      I would be surprised if many, if any, people with onset of depression after the start of things like COVID lockdowns are actually eligible for this yet. This is for people with treatment resistant depression, meaning they must still have symptoms after failing at least 2 classes of pharmaceutical medications. I guess there might be a couple starting to come through who might have been diagnosed near the start of the pandemic but likely not resulting from lockdowns.

      While I am here, I did some research on this as it sounds promising (and there is a lot of people here acting like this is somehow unproven). There is this systematic review (pooling of all available evidence) that shows significant moderate reductions in depression. I am sharing this one because it is open access so everyone should be able to read it. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40359-014-0039-y

      There is also this review published in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry this year which summarises the data. Unfortunately not open access but you can read the abstract which ends with the line "The evidence for the antidepressant efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy is overwhelming, and it should be considered a routine part of clinical care wherever available." If anyone would like me to send the full text to them, please let me know. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34459284/

      • Tunblor on 16/09/2021 - 15:11
        +1

        Yes, I'm not sure many people have experience or exposure to the level of depression this treatment is for (luckily!) This new treatment is an alternative for electroshock therapy, which is pretty gnarly, amazing it's still in use.

    • PeeDee on 16/09/2021 - 15:34

      Very shallow, and narrow minded. I hope you read all these comments and have a think about it.

    • Chocobros on 16/09/2021 - 20:32
      +1

      Get the vaccine and encourage others to do so instead of complaining on an online forum about restrictions to keep you alive…

      Covid is here to stay… Its up to us how long we want the restrictions to last

    • w37hsyea on 17/09/2021 - 01:07

      Some people have schitzophrenia and psychosis, and at high risk of depression and anxiety. New therapies are welcomed by anyone with debilitating illness. You have to stop thinking about yourself.

    • GodsSon23 on 17/09/2021 - 07:19

      The first guy who replied doesn't know what empathy means. don't worry.

    • Zenith2k3 on 17/09/2021 - 22:38
      +1

      While your point is valid, clinical depression is a real illness. Any treatment that helps people should be made available to them.

    • marcozmitch on 24/09/2021 - 15:01

      Until they make a home-based machine (which is in the process of being made available) as an affordable device, this is all that is available for people to get.
      https://omnipemf.com/
      It does no harm apparently, (so no side effects)
      This comedian explains and recommends it:
      https://www.greenbrooktms.com/blog/comedian-neal-brennan-tal…
      Apart from possibly be a mini_troll and not a mini_wombat, mini_wombat is a pretty ignorant animal.
      Keep on working, this treatment does not stop you.

  • StarPlatinum on 16/09/2021 - 14:07
    +11

    This is great news!

      • AustriaBargain on 16/09/2021 - 17:36
        +11

        The money goes back into the economy, it's not 1.2k a year on magnets, most of it will end up in wages for medical staff, health professionals. This new medicare scheme creates jobs.

        • Ghos7 on 17/09/2021 - 15:55

          LOL, Keynesian logic with a username including "Austria". The irony is thick

      • StarPlatinum on 16/09/2021 - 17:48
        +8

        I suggest you do research into what TMS, it is a proven method to help treat depression. This is great news for people who suffer from depression and an alternative treatment to help those where other drugs have failed

      • buckster on 16/09/2021 - 19:45
        +2

        Would it be better value if it was a cis magnet?

        • Chchnu on 16/09/2021 - 21:00

          Better than trans anial.

  • nosytt on 16/09/2021 - 14:08
    +6

    Just look how happy he is!

    https://mk0journalmedizwuq2m.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/upload…

    • sevendollarsfifty on 16/09/2021 - 14:15
      +4

      Hasn't turned the machine on yet.

      • AustriaBargain on 17/09/2021 - 21:09

        He meant the owner of the machine, making another $200.

    • rawm on 16/09/2021 - 14:34

      Is that a doctor or John Lithgow?

  • colormonochrome on 16/09/2021 - 14:13
    +12

    Unfortunately those who have already tried TMS in the past aren't eligible, regardless of how successful it was.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-14/existing-tms-patients…

  • Cinema28 on 16/09/2021 - 14:15
    +46

    TMS honestly changed my life, I don't think I'll benefit as someone who's already had it, but so glad they're finally doing this.

    • imurgod on 16/09/2021 - 15:26
      +10

      This is really great to hear. I'm happy for you.

      One of my bugbears is how people quickly trivialise depression and joke about it.

      It's no wonder there is such a stigma surrounding it.

    • D2Rflex on 16/09/2021 - 20:41
      +4

      Awesome to hear.

      Unfortunately alot of comments here are so short-sighted and selfish. Alot of people have had a rough run due to covid/lockdowns ofcourse, financial security, ability to see family friends and generally improved circumstances for our society will no doubt be how some of this group have their mental health improve. Others may have an underlying condition triggered by covid events and may one day benefit from this.

      But the most important part of this announcement is this:

      Depression is a rabid beast that impacts so many Australians either directly or via a loved one, friend, coworker etc. Its not tied to any particular source or event. The onflow of impacts it has on people's health is immeasurable, alot of people who have experienced the deepest holes of depression wouldn't wish it on their worst enemy.

      Providing an alternative, non invasive & safe, medical option to pills is so f***ing good. Antidepressants help so many, but so many people also don't get significant benefits. Depending on antidepressants can be bloody rough too, the effects of missing even 1-2 days of taking them can be horrific.

      I can't wait to give this a try personally.

    • brendanm on 17/09/2021 - 06:26

      If you don't mind me asking, how long ago did you do it, and are the effects lasting?

      • Cinema28 on 17/09/2021 - 14:46

        I just replied in the question below :) any other questions let me know

    • suzley on 17/09/2021 - 08:34

      How long did the results last before you felt you needed a "booster"?

      • Cinema28 on 17/09/2021 - 14:45

        I go into hospital for about 48 hours every 8-10 weeks and get 5 booster sessions. Once you've had the initial once a day sessions, you can have the boosters twice a day. I've been doing this for about 18 months as a maintenance plan after my initial 30 sessions, sometimes I feel a little low a week or so before the boosters but nothing like I used to.

  • Drakesy on 16/09/2021 - 14:15
    +22

    Sorry to be the devils advocate but isnt this another response to treat the symptoms and not the cause.
    I.e. reactive rather than proactive

    Although it seems to be all that the government is good at

    • MisterEd on 16/09/2021 - 14:19
      +66

      Onset of Depression can come from almost anything and to be able to address all causes would be an impossible task.

        • enwar on 16/09/2021 - 14:33
          -1

          Inane? Allude? Wanna?

        • MasterScythe on 16/09/2021 - 14:34
          +1

          Just 2 years?
          The risk of illness.

          However to try and suggest the majority of depressed people are just scared of getting sick is just as inane, if not more so.

        • KenDiaMoi on 16/09/2021 - 14:36
          +25

          This isn't just for covid related depression come on

        • makeyouryear on 16/09/2021 - 21:46
          +3

          Growing weary of people conflating COVID-related depression with lockdown-related depression.

          The same people who say 'case numbers are low so lockdown is unnecessary', unable to realise that perhaps it's lockdown that keeps the numbers low.

          A study from the US came out a few weeks back looking at the rate of suicide among veterans during the pandemic.

          The rate actually decreased in general, but increased in those who had caught COVID. No surprise, COVID looks like hell.

          • MasterScythe on 17/09/2021 - 21:43
            +1

            @makeyouryear: Uh huh!
            The statistic that's not talked about enough is LONG covid, hence the suicide.

            The fact that vaccination statistics are suggesting long covid is ALMOST impossible after a jab is super promising

        • crentist on 17/09/2021 - 01:38
          +1

          Good point. Depression didn't even exist before 2019. It was just a thing the economy did 100 years ago and a weird name doctors give to paddle pop sticks.

    • David Warners Mo on 16/09/2021 - 14:50
      +14

      People who have illnesses probably appreciate having their symptoms treated

    • magic8ballgag on 16/09/2021 - 14:52
      +4

      I'm sure a lot of medical professionals would love to hear your take on the cause of depression.

    • TrendyTim on 16/09/2021 - 15:01
      +12

      Wow who knew it was THAT simple.

      Isn't one of the problems with depression that it's a self-perpetuating issue, it's much harder to combat the causes while you are depressed, which just feeds the depression.

      If this works and alleviates the depression somewhat, giving the sufferer the ability to tackle the root causes without the added burden the depression.

      I guess you're also against taking panadol or ibuprofen for pain since they only treat the symptoms, just suck it up.

      • Drakesy on 16/09/2021 - 18:57

        I was more looking at things that are causing depression, i wasn't saying that anything that cures the symptoms should not be funded.

        Yes i understand it can be a genetic thing that is inherited.
        But other causes such as:
        Drug and alcohol use.
        Environmental factors.
        Ever decreasing disposable income and prospects of owning houses/getting ahead in the world
        Social media.
        lack of physical exercise
        diet and gut health
        etc.

        Yes it's easy to say it's all well and good that the government is subsidising this (which i think is a great thing) but curing the symptoms doesn't necessarily cure the source. Which is something this government hasn't learnt.
        As soon as people start to see this as an alternative option that can magically make you happy people will start pushing their doctor to put them onto it, costing the taxpayer money in the process.

        • buckster on 16/09/2021 - 19:49
          +1

          Well, some of those listed causative things cause permanent issue, or issues that persist even with withdrawal of the original cause. Mental health goes a long way past just feeling sad because of x

          Sometimes the source can't be treated or removed. Those people benefit from a treatment like this if it works for them.

          Talking from experience with a contact who has spent years under psychiatric/psychological care with insignificant improvement to their condition despite all current treatments

        • makeyouryear on 16/09/2021 - 22:06

          Hate to defend the libs but there are goverment interventions for literally every single one of the causes you listed, yet they persist.

          Consider perhaps this is a complicated issue being tackled with a similarly complicated set of interventions?

          How exactly would the government learn to as you say cure the source of environmental factors?

          I don't think after trying multiple antidepressants without success these patients will be expecting anything to 'magically make them happy'.

          Try to see the grey, and try to understand that there are people who dedicate their lives to trying to understand the complexities at play.

        • RecklessMonkeys on 17/09/2021 - 11:03

          make you happy

          Depression can be a deeply debilitating disease. Being 'unhappy' is not necessarily depression. That being said, any underlying issues would be addressed simultaneously.

    • wosdam on 16/09/2021 - 18:33

      In a car accident, you can address the cause ie enforce seatbelts etc but you still need to repair the damage

    • Cpt Dumpling on 16/09/2021 - 14:23
      +58

      You think treating depression isn't a lifesaving procedure?

      • pompompom on 16/09/2021 - 14:32
        -7

        Considering you would have to pay 160 for a session compared to cutbacks that may cost you 10s of thousands for surgeries then yes,
        assuming the number of ppl that can fork out 160 dollars > than the number of ppl that can afford 10s of thousands.

        • Cpt Dumpling on 16/09/2021 - 14:39
          +6

          i think you're forgetting what the r in rTMS stands for.

          • pompompom on 16/09/2021 - 14:43
            -5

            @Cpt Dumpling: The r is a gimmick. No one would realistically end up doing 35 sessions and even with 35 it's still alot more affordable than what cutbacks will cost you.

            • D2Rflex on 16/09/2021 - 20:51

              @pompompom: Why wouldn't they? Ive seen an osteopath more than 35 times for example due to an ongoing issue.

              While im not in support of important, $$$ procedures no longer being covered its important you don't undermine the cost depression to some people. Many people have it coexist with multiple conditions which often can be cyclical, so flare-up of condition X triggers a spike in the symptoms of condition Y.

              Across medications, doctors, therapy all on an ongoing basis do add up over time. You can't compare apples and oranges, this initiative could potentially have a better return per $ on preventing deaths, quality of life or other measures, who knows.

            • digitalbath on 16/09/2021 - 21:24
              +1

              @pompompom: A standard course of rTMS is 20 sessions. And it's not unusual to have a few more. How do I know this? I'm a mental health nurse and work administer TMS.

              Having said that, it doesn’t work for everybody, and it's not a one off cure/treatment. Most people have way more than 35 treatments….

    • Tunblor on 16/09/2021 - 15:13

      What cutbacks are you upset about?

  • fiveferrari on 16/09/2021 - 14:19
    +4

    Awesome stuff. Thanks for posting.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/09/2021 - 14:21
    +3

    Move to the forums

    • Wonderfool on 16/09/2021 - 14:22
      +7

      Why? Seems perfectly fine here.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/09/2021 - 14:26
        +5

        News announcement, not a deal

        • Clear on 16/09/2021 - 14:46
          +21

          Something that once cost $$$ is now essentially free. That's the very definition of a deal.

          Now if it was a new treatment that had become available it would be a different story.

          • assailantsky on 16/09/2021 - 15:08

            @Clear: It's not "free"! It is subsidized by every other tax payers, the provider still charges the same amount for the service they provide, if not more after this announcement…

            • Clear on 16/09/2021 - 15:12
              +5

              @assailantsky: I drew you a hand turkey since I can't hug you.

            • imurgod on 16/09/2021 - 15:31
              +18

              @assailantsky: So it's free for the patient.

              It's so great that we live in a country where part of our taxes are used to treat people who wouldn't be able to afford treatment otherwise.

              I'm happy my taxes can save lives.

              • Ghos7 on 17/09/2021 - 16:05
                -1

                @imurgod: It would be cheaper if there were no taxes being funneled through government bureaucracy and there was private charity you could donate to for this use. Also, this would avoid your hard earned funding drug addicts with places to live and money to further damage themselves with zero accountability.

            • makeyouryear on 16/09/2021 - 21:28
              +2

              @assailantsky: Everyone on the planet subsidizes your purchase every time you claim a free item of craptastic plastic you don't need.

              Ozbargain regularly has deals subsidized by the taxpayer, government energy rebates come to mind.

              If I were not so busy I would draw you so many hand turkeys.

            • ndro777 on 17/09/2021 - 16:15

              @assailantsky: I'm happy for my tax dollar to pay for treatments that are needed for some people. Different story if people like harvey norman etc gets govt hand out.

        • Wonderfool on 16/09/2021 - 14:48

          How are they mutually exclusive?

    • thestig on 16/09/2021 - 14:25
      +25

      Who would see this in the forums? Given making someone aware could possibly save a life, I say leave it here. Worth the inconvenience of an extra 1cm movement of the thumb for those not interested to scroll past. And it was something that cost out of pocket, which is now free.

      • Pixie13 on 16/09/2021 - 14:38
        +4

        Yep, give as many people as possible access to this information, which I for one would not see if were in the forums.

        • SupeNintendoChalmers on 16/09/2021 - 23:10

          Happy for mods to move it to the forums but only after it's been on the front page for maximum exposure.

      • assailantsky on 16/09/2021 - 14:41
        +10

        Why does this need to be seen by everyone? As long as your doctor knows this (they should and not only via OzB I hope!) and they know when to prescribe this course of treatment for a patient with depression, I don't see why it is something that needs be broadcast?

        • morse on 16/09/2021 - 14:50
          +16

          Maybe it will inspire someone who has already gone down the path of antidepressants and psychology without success to reach out to their dr again where they might not have if they didn’t think there was anything else the doc could offer.

          • assailantsky on 16/09/2021 - 15:19
            +3

            @morse: I understand this point, and support the sentiment of everyone be more proactive in their healthcare. However, at some point I hope people still refer back to the medical advice as to the best treatment plan.

            • morse on 16/09/2021 - 15:32
              +1

              @assailantsky: In an ideal world yes, but I’ve had a lot of people tell me that their GP is disinterested in mental health concerns. There’s certainly some great gps, there’s others who just seem not to have the time, interest or motivation.

              • brendanm on 17/09/2021 - 06:34

                @morse: Easier to just give out a script for antidepressants and send them out the door.

        • thestig on 16/09/2021 - 15:03
          +15

          Maybe a doc recommended it in the past and someone couldn't afford it. Now they might see this and go back to their doc. To me the potential benefit to just one person outweighs the inconvenience of a 1cm thumb swipe to others.

          The amount of rubbish deals we scroll past everyday, the one that could save someone's life is the one you have an issue with?

          • assailantsky on 16/09/2021 - 15:14
            +3

            @thestig: Not sure if you ever been treated with depression, but that's not how it works with the doctor and patient, you are not treating a stomach bug or cold where one visit and a prescription is enough.

            • thestig on 16/09/2021 - 15:20
              +9

              @assailantsky: I haven't been but I'm close to someone who has who has visited numerous docs on and off irregularly, usually when they are desperate. Unfortunately some people suffering aren't even in the mindset to continue attending regular ongoing treatment. They've had big steps forward on occasions they visit a doc and something different is offered giving them hope. You can't possibly say this would not help anyone so let it go. What is wrong with you?

              • assailantsky on 16/09/2021 - 15:26
                +2

                @thestig: Why would you assume there's something wrong with me just because I have a different point of view. Please don't take what I say personally, if I offended you in someway, please know that I don't mean any offense, I'm sorry you feel that way.

    • orangetrain on 16/09/2021 - 14:29

      A PHI announcing the same would be considered a deal. Why not this?

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