TMS and Medicare

Many patients ask if Medicare will pay for TMS (Transcranial magnetic stimulation). The answer is yes. Medicare will pay for TMS as long as the patient meets the following criteria:

#1 – Has a diagnosis of severe major depressive disorder

#2 – AND did not have a clinically significant response to a single trial of an antidepressant OR was unable to tolerate 2 different agents from 2 different classes

#3 – A trial of evidence-based psychotherapy known to be effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder was attempted without significant improvement.

If these three criteria are met, then Medicare will pay for TMS. A prior authorization is not required if the criteria are met. The first treatment (the mapping of the patient to find the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex AKA “the depression center of the brain”) is performed by a psychiatrist. All other treatments can be done by a TMS technician under the supervision of the psychiatrist. However, currently at Front Range TMS, Dr. Clint Tanner, MD will perform all treatments of TMS. He will personally verify that each treatment is correctly positioned to give treatment to the depression center of the brain.

If you have and other questions about TMS and Medicare, you can contact us here or go to the contact us page in our website, and we would be happy to answer your questions. We hope that you found our article helpful.

Non Drug Therapy for Depression in Denver Colorado

Many people suffer from depression. Depression is one of the most common illnesses: 18 million adults (one in ten) will have a major depressive episode in a given year. Sometimes medication can be life-saving treatment, but what happens when medications haven’t helped your depression? You can try switching to different medications, but some people have been trying different medications and combinations for years and still suffer from depression.

Enter TMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. TMS can help those in which medication hasn’t helped. It uses magnetic pulses which creates an electric current which depolarized neurons in specific regions of the brain. This increases blood flow and relieves depression. Front Range TMS delivers non drug therapy for depression in Denver Colorado.

TMS is also a good choice for those people who can’t tolerate medications or feel that certain side effects are unacceptable. We have heard some patients whose depression gets better when on antidepressants, but then they choose to stop the medication because of various side effects that they are experiencing such as weight gain, sexual dysfunction, emotional blunting, cognitive blunting, feeling tired or groggy, having headaches, etc.

TMS is a great choice for those who can’t tolerate antidepressants because of side effects because the side effect profile is very minimal. There can be some headaches/mild irritation to the scalp and only rarely could there be a serious side effect such as a seizure. TMS is delivered daily Monday thru Friday. Each treatment takes about 10 minutes. Major insurance companies will cover TMS treatment provided you have tried 2-4 medications, trialed therapy, and continue to be depressed. Your insurance company (other than medicare) requires a prior authorization (permission prior to treatment), so we can meet and fill out the appropriate documentation to get approval for your treatment.

TMS therapy

Are you looking for TMS therapy? Many people are looking for alternatives to treat their depression other than just medications. Medications can cause annoying and sometimes debilitating side effects which can include a decrease in sex drive (decrease libido) or other sexual dysfunction, fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, and other problems. The compliance rate for anti-depressants is not surprisingly very low which is estimated to be around 30% or lower.

It is also not a good idea to let a major depressive episode go untreated as depression is “toxic” to the brain and can increase the chances of having future depressive episodes in the future. A FDA cleared(approved) treatment for depression is transcranial magnetic stimulation. This utilizes magnetic pulses to activate parts of the brain that are associated with depression. Over a series of treatments, the brain will respond to the stimulation and give an antidepressant effect which can lead to remission of the depressive episode.

Front Range TMS has the experience to deliver TMS to help with your depression without all of the side effects of medications. Each treatment will last approximately 19 minutes. Depending on your response, you may start feeling better within a few sessions. Some patients take up to 30-36 sessions for the maximum benefit to take effect. Just like medications, response to TMS therapy differs from patient to patient.

If you would like to learn more about TMS, please click here!

If you would like to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Tanner about how TMS can help you, please go to our contact page located here.

We appreciate you taking the time to read about transcranial magnetic stimulation or commonly abbreviated as TMS. If you have more questions about TMS, please take a look at our frequently asked questions located here.

Happy reading!

TMS Solutions

Many people in the Greater Denver Area are looking for a solution to their depression (or TMS Solutions). We frequently will receive calls that our patients have depression, but they do not like medications. They say that the medications “makes me feel weird” or they have intolerable side effects. They also do not like the Stigma of taking medications. “I don’t like having to rely on my medications” or “I feel weak when I have to take a medication everyday” or “I just hate taking something everyday to make me feel better.” They are looking for the right type of treatment that does not have the side effects, the stigma of taking medications, or anything that would alter how they perceive themselves.

This is where TMS comes in as a solution to people’s problems – it is a TMS solutions. The repetitive magnetic pulse can deliver equivalent or better results to improving depression than medications. The durability of TMS is also an important factor as medications have to be consistently taken for continued results. Research has shown that TMS can have a durable effect that can last up to a year or possibly longer and does not require sustained treatment. We hope that you take the opportunity to explore our website and discover the benefits of TMS treatment for depression.

There will always be a role for medications in mental health, but having TMS can be a life-saver for those looking for an alternative to medication. This knowledge can be the hope that you are looking for. If you would like to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Tanner, please contact us here or just us an e-mail, and we will be more than happy to get something scheduled for you.

Thanks for taking the time to read our post.

Depression Therapy in Denver CO

Are you looking for depression therapy in Denver Colorado? Here at Front Range TMS, we offer a state-of-the-art treatment for major depressive disorder (depression). We use TMS (rTMS) or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to treat depression. This cutting-edge technology, which is covered by most major insurance companies, treats depression through the use of repetitive repetitive pulses. Front Range TMS specifically utilizes TMS for depression therapy in Denver CO. We also treat patients in the surrounding areas of Denver which include Aurora, Centennial, Littleton, Englewood, Highlands Ranch, Parker, Etc.

If you would like depression therapy in Denver CO and the surrounding areas, Front Range TMS can be there to assist you to achieve for mental health goals. The reason TMS is a good option for many people is that TMS does not have systemic side effects that medications have. Side effects of TMS are minor and temporary. Common side effects of TMS include soreness at the stimulation site, headache (typically mild headaches which typically go away on their own), and eye twitching (which can occur during the procedure).

Generally speaking, there should not be any pain in TMS. There can be mild discomfort, but not pain. There is no anesthesia, and after the procedure, you can drive and go about your normal daily activities. This means that this can be a good option for a lot of people.

If you would like to learn more, please give us a call or e-mail us. Our contact information is located here. We can set you up with an appointment with Dr. Tanner to go over all of your questions or concerns.  If you are using insurance, our office will also attempt to get prior authorization approval to have the insurance company pay for the TMS treatment. Thanks for reading.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Cost Per Treatment

Many people ask us about Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Cost Per Treatment. The answer varies depending on the practice location. Some practice locations will charge up to $600 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Cost Per Treatment. Some will charge $450 per treatment. Some take insurance and some do not. At Front Range TMS, we take insurance including Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Cigna, Medicare, and United Healthcare. If you would like to pay out of pocket, an estimate is that the cost would be about $450 (please verify with clinic) and each subsequent treatment is $300 (verify with clinic). We do help you try to receive prior authorization from your insurance company to lower your out of pocket cost for transcranial magnetic stimulation cost per treatment.

We can discuss your treatment needs and goals if you setup an appointment to see Dr. Tanner. You can either give us a call or e-mail. Our information is located at our contact-us page located here.

Some people will say that TMS treatment is too expensive. It is true that it is an expensive treatment, but if it can prevent being admitted to a hospital, it actually can be very cost effective. Each day in a psychiatric hospital is about $5000. If you stay the average length of stay which is 3-5 days, that’d $15,000 – 25,000. This information can help justify the transcranial magnetic stimulation cost per treatment. The cost of a hospital admission is much much more than the typical cost of a TMS series of treatments for major depressive disorder (depression). We hope that this information can help you in your decision. If you would like to setup a free consultation with Dr. Tanner to discuss you mental health needs and goals, please don’t be afraid to give us a call or e-mail as about information about TMS treatment.

Thanks for reading our post about the cost of TMS treatment.

Magnetic therapy for depression

When you say magnetic therapy for depression, it can sound strange, quacky, cooky, or voodooish. However, ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) has been used for hundreds of years. This uses electrical currents to generate a seizure which stimulates the entire brain which can offer relief for those suffering from a variety of psychiatric conditions. With TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), instead of creating stimulation through electricity, the stimulation is done through a magnetic pulse. Magnetic pulses have done miracles in medicine, for this is how a MRI machine works which will create magnetic pulses to create an image of the subject.

The same sophistication has come to psychiatry. Now you can use magnetic therapy for depression which is more scientifically described as TMS or rTMS. It is FDA approved, non invasive, medication and drug free, minimal side effects. There are thousands of patients who have been successfully treated with TMS or colloquially known as magnetic therapy for depression. We strongly believe that patients should have an alternative to treat their depression. Some patients really can’t tolerate medications as they have very bothersome side effects. Some have side effects that is unacceptable to them such as sexual dysfunction which is a very common side effect (some estimates say 30% or more for antidepressants). Thus, many people have to decide between not being depressed and having a sex life. This is one of the many reasons that people stop and start medications so frequently. TMS is a good alternative to this constant battle as the effects can last a long time.

If you are interested in the benefits of TMS, please contact us here at our contact us page. If you give us a call, you can be scheduled with Dr. Tanner for a free consultation and can go over any questions or concerns that you may have.

Depression Treatment Centers Colorado

Looking for a list of depression treatment centers Colorado? There are a few of these depression treatment centers Colorado. Here at Front Range TMS, we specialize in the treatment of depression, major depression, major depressive disorders, and other depressive spectrum disorders. We utilize the relatively new treatment for depression called TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Research has shown that repetitively stimulating particular parts of the brain with magnetic pulses that it improves symptoms of depression. This has led to technology to induce pulses and technology known as TMS. TMS treatment is a non-invasive, medication free, minimal side effects, treatment for major depressive disorder and depressive symptoms. Each treatment takes approximately 19 minutes and the typical treatment series is about 20-36 treatments. These treatments are typically done Monday through Friday and taking the Weekends off. The sessions typically cover a 6 week period, but there are times where it does go into the 7th week if there missed sessions due to an illness or holiday.

Take a look at our depression center in comparison to all of the other depression treatment centers Colorado. We offer more attention to each patient and try to make sure that prior to treatment that insurance prior authorization is completed. We want to make sure that your experience is a pleasant one, and so we try to take care of the headaches of modern day medicine for you. If you would like to learn more about TMS, please browse our webpage and you can learn all about how TMS can treat depression.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tanner, please contact us here and give us a phone call or an e-mail, so that you can have a free consultation with Dr. Tanner to discuss the possibility of TMS to help you.

Depression Doctor

Are you looking for a Depression Doctor in Denver, Colorado? Dr. Tanner is an expert in depression, major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, and treatment resistant depression. Dr. Tanner can be known as a depression doctor since he has specialized training in treatment resistant depression. He trained with world renowned depression experts such as Jan Fawcett. A new technique that is used by many depression doctors for the treatment of depression is transcranial magnetic stimulation. This treatment can help treat your depression in a new way that has traditionally not been used other than Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).

The treatment utilizes repetitive magnetic pulses directed at a specific part of the brain which is known to be the “depression center.” Through many studies, it has been determined that by repetitively stimulating an area over the course of 6 weeks, that depression will improve. This has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depressive disorder. You deserve the highest qualifications for your depression doctor, and Dr. Tanner has those qualifications to help you.

Would you like to know more? Take a look at our website homepage and look at all of the different informative webpages on how TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) can help treat your depression. If you would like to setup a free consultation with Dr. Tanner, you can contact us here and call or e-mail us to setup a free consultation. Dr. Tanner will sit down with you and discuss your mental health goals and come up with a treatment plan that you will be happy with. If you would like to see the qualifications of Dr. Tanner, you can learn about his experience, education, and training at our About us page located here.  We appreciate you reading our depression and TMS post.

Depression treatment in Denver

Are you looking for Depression treatment in Denver, Colorado? Here at Front Range TMS, we offer depression treatment in Denver using a non-invasive, drug-free method called TMS or transcranial magnetic stimulation. This is an innovative/cutting edge treatment for major depressive disorder. Some patients have received relief from their depression after years of trying medications and psychotherapy. It works through a different mechanism by repetitively stimulating a specific area of your brain known as the “depression center.” After many treatments, these treatments lead to improvement in your depression.

This is a FDA approved method for treating depression and tens of thousands of people have been successfully treated through TMS. TMS utilizes a magnetic field which rapidly pulses which causes a current in the targeted area of the brain. This is what leads to the stimulation and the treatment area which over times leads to relief of depressive symptoms. Some patients have complete remission of their depression in 20 sessions. Others take up to 36 sessions to get complete remission of their symptoms. It is very difficult to predict what kind of responder that you will be until you try TMS treatment. This is very similar to medications. You really don’t know how you will respond to medications until you try it. They have genetic testing, but even the results don’t adequately predict if you will respond well or not.

We hope that you consider us for your depression treatment in Denver. We offer the personal touch that is often lost in large clinics. If you would like to get started, please contact us here to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Tanner to go over how it works and your treatment goals. If you have any concerns, you can e-mail us, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.