Health Care Service Corporation Adds First-Line TMS Coverage for AdolescentsNeuronetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: STIM) announced that Health Care Service (HCSC) has expanded access to TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) for adolescents 15 and older with major depressive disorder (MDD). This policy update aligns with the recent FDA clearance of NeuroStar TMS Therapy as a first-line add-on treatment for this age group. HCSC, the largest customer-owned health insurer in the U.S., will now cover TMS for adolescents 15-17 as a first-line treatment, without requiring prior medication failure.
The policy update, effective 10/1/2024, affects over 15 million covered livesthrough BCBS Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. This expansion follows recent policy updates from other major insurers, reflecting growing recognition of the need for earlier access to mental health treatments like NeuroStar TMS for young people.