Highmark, a Pennsylvania-based insurer, will now cowl AppliedVR’s RelieVRx, a tool for power decrease again ache, the businesses introduced Monday. This makes Highmark the primary business insurer to cowl the machine.

RelieVRx is an FDA-cleared machine. Sufferers use the machine in 56 periods, that are divided into eight chapters: Breath and Ache, Thoughts and Ache Reduction, Consideration and Distraction, Leisure, Shaping the Nervous System to Enlightenment, Noticing the Physique, Shifting Ahead, and Journey to Wellness. The machine is self-administered at dwelling by sufferers.

“RelieVRx presents a totally immersive digital actuality expertise designed to show individuals abilities to handle [chronic lower back pain]”, stated Matthew Stoudt, co-founder and CEO of AppliedVR, in an electronic mail. “It serves as a cheap, non-pharmacological adjunctive remedy that’s clinically confirmed to considerably scale back ache depth and interference throughout socio-demographic teams.”

Greater than 4 million Highmark business members now have entry to RelieVRx as a coated remedy. Highmark’s option to cowl RelieVRx comes after an intensive assessment of AppliedVR’s medical analysis, which included a research of greater than 1,000 members that demonstrated that RelieVRx can considerably scale back each ache depth and interference.

Eligible business members who’re at the very least 18 years previous and identified with average to extreme power low again ache can now obtain a prescription for RelieVRx from their healthcare supplier with out prior authorization. AppliedVR declined to share Highmark’s cost price.

“We’re dedicated to utilizing expertise to enhance well being outcomes whereas lowering prices,” stated Matt Fickie, senior medical director at Highmark, in an announcement. “AppliedVR’s RelieVRx presents our members affected by power low again ache an evidence-based, immersive, non-opioid therapy choice for the house.”

At the moment, greater than 72 million Individuals endure from power decrease again ache. Persistent ache prices the U.S. roughly $635 billion per 12 months and is a serious contributor to the opioid disaster. Stoudt famous that as a result of RelieVRx is a non-pharmacological answer, it will possibly assist scale back opioid dependency within the U.S.

Digital therapeutics have usually struggled to get insurance coverage protection. AppliedVR, nonetheless, took a unique route by getting protection for RelieVRx as a sturdy medical gear (DME). Healthcare.gov defines DME as gear and provides prescribed by healthcare suppliers for normal use. Different examples embrace wheelchairs, crutches, or blood take a look at strips.

“That distinction allowed us to be a part of an current advantages class, which made it simpler to work with a business payer like Highmark to finalize protection,” Stoudt stated. “Secondly, by securing protection with Highmark — a BCBS plan — we count on it to open the door to securing protection with different payers — Blues and non-Blues.”

Stoudt added that by partnering with Highmark, the corporate goals to supply its payer members a therapy choice for power low again ache that may “present lasting ache reduction whereas bettering their high quality of life.”

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