As of July 1, 2024, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has announced changes to their terms of coverage for rTMS (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a category of TMS which includes Deep TMS) to address treatment-resistant depression in veterans.
This announcement builds on VAC's landmark decision in 2021 to offer rTMS coverage for veterans. It is also timely, given the growing scientific evidence for the efficacy of rTMS (especially the dTMS variety) for treatment-resistant depression in veterans, including a February 2024 study in Psychiatry Research pointing to "evidence of the impact and durability of dTMS on symptoms of MDD, PTSD, and suicidal ideation among Veterans with treatment-resistant depression". The study indicates that "symptoms of MDD had a statistically significant reduction from pretreatment to all other time points with large effect sizes."
What has changed in the new terms of coverage?
Notable changes to the policy as of July 2024 include:
Removal of the lifetime limit on dTMS sessions
Previous policy had limited coverage to a lifetime maximum of 90 sessions per individual, divided equally among "initial", "reoccurrence" and "maintenance" sessions.
The new coverage allows for 90 sessions per calendar year with no lifetime limit and no distinction needed between the type of session (i.e. "initial", "reoccurrence" or "maintenance")
Specific mention of dTMS (deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)
The new policy specifically indicates that dTMS is included for coverage while the previous policy simply mentioned rTMS treatments generally.
dTMS will be reimbursed up to $250 per session
While the previous policy did not stipulate a dollar amount per session, the new coverage does, while removing the lifetime limit on sessions.
By psychiatrist prescription only
Whereas previous policy allowed for rTMS to be prescribed by a psychiatrist or other MD, the updated policy limits coverage to psychiatrist-prescribed rTMS only (including dTMS).
Who qualifies for coverage?
VAC treatment benefits are provided to veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). You will need to have a VAC healthcare card (visit the VAC website to learn more)
To qualify for dTMS coverage, you must be receiving it as a "first-line treatment for treatment-resistant depression".
According to the policy, dTMS must be "recommended by Veteran’s treating psychiatrist, who confirms the diagnosis of a depressive disorder and that there have been two failed trials of treatment with two different anti-depressants"
What should I do next?
If you are a veteran or have a friend or family member who is a veteran suffering from mental health challenges for which you're considering dTMS treatment, we encourage you to reach out to us at Neurogenesis Clinics. No matter what your situation, we would be happy to provide guidance on psychiatrist-led treatment options that will help you or your loved one recover and thrive.
dTMS has been proven to offer hope where traditional treatments have failed. At Neurogenesis Clinics, we are proud to offer this cutting-edge therapy and are committed to helping veterans improve their mental health and quality of life.
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