FDA-authorized RelieVRx now a covered
treatment for Highmark's commercial members experiencing chronic
low back pain (CLBP)
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 9,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AppliedVR, a pioneer in
immersive therapeutics (ITx) advancing virtual reality-based
medicine, announced today that Highmark, a leading commercial
health insurance plan based in Pittsburgh, PA, will now cover RelieVRx,
AppliedVR's FDA-authorized device for chronic low back pain (CLBP).
This landmark decision makes RelieVRx accessible as a covered
therapeutic to more than four million Highmark members across its
commercial lines of business.
RelieVRx offers a fully immersive virtual reality (VR)
experience designed to empower individuals with skills for managing
CLBP. It serves as a cost-effective, non-pharmacologic adjunctive
therapy clinically proven to significantly reduce pain intensity
and interference across sociodemographic groups.
Patients using RelieVRx undergo a 56-session, multimodal
program, featuring daily VR sessions that address the
bio-psycho-social aspects of pain. RelieVRx is self-administered by
patients in their own homes and has an easy-to-use interface. In
clinical testing, RelieVRx usability ratings were consistently high
(A+), which was largely consistent across
subgroups.1
Highmark's decision to cover RelieVRx follows a thorough
evaluation of AppliedVR's extensive clinical studies, including a
large study with more than 1,000 participants that found RelieVRx
can have a clinically meaningful impact on reducing pain intensity
and interference. Eligible commercial members aged 18 and older
diagnosed with moderate to severe CLBP can now obtain a
prescription for RelieVRx from their healthcare provider without
prior authorization.
"We are committed to leveraging technology to enhance health
outcomes while reducing costs," said Matt
Fickie, Senior Medical Director for Highmark. "RelieVRx from
AppliedVR provides our members suffering from chronic low back pain
a scientifically backed, in-home immersive non-opioid treatment
option."
Chronic pain imposes a significant economic burden on the U.S.,
estimated at $635 billion annually,
and is a primary driver of the opioid crisis. More than 72 million
Americans suffer from CLBP, which also is a leading cause of
disability.
"Every individual battling CLBP deserves access to noninvasive,
drug-free options that empower them to self-manage their pain.
Highmark's forward-thinking approach recognizes the promise of
immersive therapeutics, and we are grateful for their
collaboration," said Matthew Stoudt,
Co-founder and CEO of AppliedVR. "RelieVRx is based on decades of
clinical evidence demonstrating the transformative potential of
immersive therapeutics to reshape the body's response to pain, and
we are committed to building an even greater body of evidence that
continues to set the industry standard."
While Highmark becomes the first commercial health plan to adopt
coverage for RelieVRx, AppliedVR has experienced significant
momentum with payers over the last year:
- RelieVRx previously received a unique code and final pricing
determination from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS).
- RelieVRx was added to the Department of Veterans Affairs'
Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), Defense Logistics Agency's
Electronic Catalogue for Medical Supply Chain (ECAT), and the
Department of Defense's Distribution and Pricing Agreement (DAPA),
allowing government customers to make streamlined purchases.
RelieVRx is now available nationwide and is currently used in more
than 40 Veterans Affairs (VA) sites.
- VA Immersive, a division of Veterans Health Administration
(VHA), extended its contract with AppliedVR to facilitate
accelerated uptake.
- AppliedVR also recently expanded into the Worker's Compensation
market.
About AppliedVR
AppliedVR is creating a new reality in
healthcare. AVR is pioneering immersive therapeutics (ITx), a new
category of medicine, to treat intractable health conditions that
affect millions of people worldwide. Today, AppliedVR's treatments
represent a robust approach to chronic lower back pain (CLBP) that
empowers patients with an intuitive device they can self-manage at
home. For more information, visit www.appliedvr.io.
1 Research indicated some slight
differences among race/ethnicity.
Contacts
Sam Moore
press@appliedvr.io
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SOURCE AppliedVR