FACTS ABOUT KETAMINE AND VA GUILDELINES
21 VAs Now Reimburse Veterans For Clinical Ketamine Suicide Prevention Treatments!
“As of August 2, 2021, the VHA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention reported there were 21 facilities providing intravenous ketamine treatments for treatment-resistant depression.” – VA OIG Report
Special thanks to Doc’s Ketamine in Land O’ Lakes, Florida for all the content. Call Doc First! (877) DOC-KETA (877) 362-5382
Updated: 20 August, 2023.
Official VA Support For:
- KETAMINE
- VA GUIDELINES
- REMIBURSEMENT
- EFFECTIVENES
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is starting to get it right when it comes to mental health.
Six Facts and One Pre-Filled Referral Form
Facts Below. Form here.
FACT
Ketamine is Effective and Allowed by the VA/DoD Guidelines
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Major Depressive Disorder (2022) states that: “Evidence suggests both ketamine infusion and intranasal esketamine improve depressive symptoms in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who have not responded to at least two previous adequate trials of antidepressant medications” (p.51).
FACT
The VA Pays for Ketamine IV Treatment via the Veterans Care Agreements (VCA)
The Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of the Inspector General reported that “as of August 2, 2021, the VHA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention reported that there were 21 facilities providing intravenous ketamine treatments for treatment-resistant depression.”
FACT
IV Ketamine is safe for repeated infusion treatments.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (2018) concluded that repeated ketamine infusions, when administered under appropriate clinical supervision, with minimal risk of sever adverse effects.
FACT
IV Ketamine and Spravato (esketamine) are different medications with IV Ketamine being more effective.
Ketamine and Spravato have distinctions in composition, administration, and approved uses. Ketamine, a generic medication used off-label for depression and anxiety, can be adjusted in IV therapy to improve tolerance. In contrast, Spravato, a brand-name nasal spray, does not offer the same adjustability in dosing.
FACT
Community Care referral for IV Ketamine can be entered by any VA licensed health-care provider.
The VA Pharmacy specifically states that a VA psychiatrist or VA licensed health care provider (i.e., CPP, NP, PA) can determine and document that a patient qualifies for Ketamine treatment (p2). If a veteran has failed to achieve a full response for four adequate anti-depressant medications or has severe suicidal depression then a referral can and should be made.
If a veteran is more than 40 minutes from one of these facilities, then the veteran is approved for a community care referral with a contracted provider in the community.
FACT
Community Care will reach urban and rural veterans.
If a veteran is more than 40 minutes from one of these facilities, then the veteran is approved for a community care referral with a contracted provider in the community.
Thank to Chris “Doc” at Doc’s Ketamine in Land O’ Lakes, Florida. 877 DOC-KETA. Doc suffered with PTSD for 18 years after his deployments. He became an instant advocate after his first successful IV ketamine treatment. He had his suicide planned just in case. KAP works!
It is because of Doc that we are able to reproduce his hard-earned investigation and content. Call Doc first!
The VA has 21 hospitals providing IV ketamine at their facility. Doc’s Ketamine has been able to find a few of these locations:
- San Antonio, TX
- Gainesville, FL
- Cleveland, OH
- Raleigh, NC
- San Francisco, CA
Prevention and Postvention – Veteran Suicide Ends Here
About Once A Soldier: Starting in 2017, our mission is to limit the scars of Veteran suicide. We offer prevention services and postvention services. We reach a national audience and our goal is to become the preferred channel for those who want to help Veteran families who need our services. With 17 Veteran suicides a day in 2021, we believe our two niche services will make a difference to each family and to our nation.
