According to Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, research must continue in the areas of psychedelic assisted therapy programs for treating PTSD.
Written testimony provided by Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, co-director of the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute and senior policy researcher at the nonprofit and nonpartisan RAND Corporation, indicates that the cost of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans presents several challenges. Because of the exorbitant cost of the treatment, which averages at least $11,500 for each veteran, its feasibility inside the Veterans Affairs healthcare system is in question. Even if the treatment is regarded to be cost-effective in light of the social and personal costs of untreated PTSD, the VA still takes cost-effectiveness into consideration when making formulary selections, as Dr. Ramchand points out. The VA routinely takes cost-effectiveness into consideration when making formulary selections.
Dr. Ramchand's testimony, which was initially scheduled to be delivered at a hearing of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Health on October 19, delves into additional depth about various market elements that may affect the cost of the medication. The size of the patient pool, the regulations of the state, and the types of insurance coverages are all examples of these variables. He compares and contrasts the prices of psychedelic therapy sessions conducted under medical supervision in the states of Oregon and Australia.
Dr. Ramchand emphasizes the need of extensive training for healthcare providers, well defined qualifying requirements, and severe monitoring procedures in the process of ensuring quality. As the market for psychedelic-assisted drugs increases, he encourages that healthcare practitioners working for the VA be prepared for patient inquiries and open dialogues. This is especially important considering that patients may worry about losing their VA coverage.
"Whether or not VA decides to provide and/or cover psychedelic-assisted therapy, a marketplace is already forming, and we should expect it to grow," according to the expert.
