AllMed Healthcare: Should Case Managers Approve VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulation) Therapy For Major Depression?

AllMed Healthcare Management Medical Specialist Jack Abramson has recently authored a feature article “Should Case Managers Approve VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulation) Therapy For Major Depression?” that is featured on the AllMed Healthcare website.

(PRWEB) June 29, 2006 -- AllMed Healthcare Management Medical Specialist Jack Abramson has recently authored a feature article “Should Case Managers Approve VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulation) Therapy For Major Depression?” that is featured on the AllMed Healthcare website. The article may be viewed by clicking the following link: http://www.allmedmd.com/resources/articles/vns.html

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is a new proposed procedure for treating resistant depression. In VNS, a therapy pulse generator and lead are surgically implanted and external programming is used to change the stimulation setting. In July 2005, the FDA approved VNS as an “adjunctive long-term treatment” for chronic or recurrent depression. Still the safety and efficacy of VNS has not been established. There are no randomized controlled studies demonstrating efficacy for the patient. The non-randomized efficacy analysis is riddled with the potential for bias since most of the literature on VNS was sponsored by the device manufacturer. The FDA approval letter reversed a non-approval letter issued in late 2004. Medical case managers should be aware that there is no pertinent clinical data available from well-conducted randomized controlled or cohort trials in the prevailing peer-reviewed published medical literature adequately concluding that VNS therapy is safe and effective for the treatment of therapy resistant depression.

More information on AllMed and the company’s peer review & medical review services can be found on AllMed’s web site at http://www.allmedmd.com/ .

About AllMed Healthcare Management
Founded in 1995, AllMed (http://www.allmedmd.com/) is a URAC-accredited Independent Review Organization (IRO) serving insurance payers, providers, TPAs and claims managers nationwide. Reviews are conducted by board-certified physicians in active practice. AllMed’s growing customer base includes premier organizations, such as Educator’s Mutual Life, IMS Managed Care, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, HealthGuard, several Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Allianz and many other leading healthcare payers.

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