WHAT DOES LIGHTHOUSE WELLNESS CENTER CHARGE FOR KETAMINE INFUSION THERAPY?

We recognize that Ketamine Infusion Therapy can be cost prohibitive for many patients. The average cost being $500.00 per infusion and usually requiring a minimum of 5-6 infusions. Additionally, many insurance companies are not providing full coverage. For this reason, Lighthouse Wellness Center is offering Ketamine Infusion Therapy for $250.00 per infusion with a minimum of 5-6 infusions. We believe that this will enable more patients to receive the help that they need.

IS KETAMINE INFUSION COVERED BY INSURANCE?

Depending on your insurance coverage, many patients achieve either partial or full reimbursement for their ketamine treatment cost. We are out of network with all insurers and require payment in full at the time of service, but will provide itemized statements with all the necessary billing codes to give you the best chance at reimbursement. Generally, patients with a good PPO policy that includes out of network benefits will see some money back after they’ve met their deductible. We accept Credit Cards and offer payment plans to help patients with financial limitations.

SO WHY DOESN’T THE FDA JUST APPROVE KETAMINE INFUSIONS FOR DEPRESSION?

Ketamine Treatments may not technically be covered by your insurer, but aspects of the treatment can be. Ketamine was approved by the FDA as an anesthetic in 1970. Ketamine Infusion Therapy for the treatment of mood disorders and chronic pain conditions is considered an “off-label” use. This simply means there is a clinical basis for using it to treat conditions other than what it was originally approved for. Prescribing medications off-label is a very common practice in the United States; 33% of all psychiatric medications are prescribed off-label and almost 25% of all medications are. Still, this can create limitations for insurance coverage.

The FDA approval process is very expensive and time-consuming. As a point of reference, the average time from FDA application to approval is 12 years, and the estimated average cost of taking a new drug from concept to market exceeds $1 billion. Since ketamine is already an approved drug with substantial safety and efficacy data, ketamine insurance coverage would likely be faster and less costly, but could still easily exceed tens or hundreds of millions of dollars and years of additional research. Since the patent is up on ketamine and no one company can recoup that cost, and it is already in use off-label, it isn’t likely to be approved anytime soon. This is the case for many other medications that are used off-label. As a result, health insurance companies can deny coverage for ketamine infusions for the treatment of depression, other mood disorders, and chronic pain despite their efficacy. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn’t approve medicines and insurance companies don’t pay for them just because they can help people.

While it is possible to get ketamine covered by insurance with it remaining off-label for mood disorders and pain conditions, there are many other hurdles to overcome. One of them is pharmaceutical companies do not want to see ketamine used therapeutically because it could reduce their sales of traditional antidepressants, which are highly profitable for them despite being less than half as effective. Insurance companies typically resist accepting ketamine as a credible treatment for depression, other mood disorders, and chronic pain because it is an off-label use. Generally, they tend to deny coverage of treatments whenever possible in an attempt to save money. At Lighthouse Wellness Center, we think they would actually save money if they covered ketamine instead of some of the less effective treatments they currently cover, many of which cost more than ketamine infusions.

Fortunately, there is an increasing awareness developing in the medical and psychiatric communities where Ketamine Infusion Therapy is acknowledged as a crucial procedure that needs to be “mainstream.” The United States and the rest of the world has an urgent need for solutions to the depression and suicide crisis. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the US and worldwide.

ARE KETAMINE INFUSIONS SAFE?

Yes, ketamine is safe. While ketamine for depression has been researched thoroughly for more than 20 years, ketamine has been used for sedation and other indications at much higher doses for over 50 years and has proven itself to be a very safe medicine—so safe, in fact, that it’s the preferred choice for pediatric cases.

MINOR KETAMINE AFTER EFFECTS

During your free phone consultation, one of our dedicated treatment providers will discuss our protocols, benefits and common experiences of treatment, and potential short-term side effects so you can make a well-informed decision regarding treatment.

The most common short-term side effects of Ketamine Infusion Therapy are:

• Mild Dissociation during the infusion
• Feeling tired or groggy for the remainder of the day following the infusion
• Mild nausea during the infusion
• Dizziness immediately after, usually dissipating entirely within a couple of hours

MANAGING THE SIDE EFFECTS OF KETAMINE INFUSION THERAPY

Most Ketamine treatment side effects are temporary and gradually subside following treatment. Typically, any side effects go away completely after a full night of sleep.

If a patient is concerned about potential short-term side effects, they can ask one of our providers for tips on how to minimize or prevent them. For example, antiemetics may be helpful for IV Ketamine Infusion Therapy patients who are prone to nausea.

If any of the side effects of ketamine infusion therapy persist, become bothersome, or a patient has questions, we are always available to discuss and assist. Minor changes in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and other bodily systems may occur during an infusion in some cases. For instance, the blood pressure, pulse rate, or heart rate may increase. These changes in vital signs usually normalize without intervention soon after an infusion is completed, if not sooner. In some cases, medication may be used to minimize or prevent these side effects. Our care team is trained in managing any of these outcomes in a smooth and efficient manner.