What You Should Know:
– Highmark, a commercial health insurance plan, has announced coverage for RelieVRx, a virtual reality-based therapy for chronic low back pain.
– This landmark decision makes RelieVRx accessible to over four million Highmark members.
A Breakthrough Treatment for Chronic Back Pain
RelieVRx is a fully immersive VR experience designed to empower individuals with skills for managing chronic low back pain (CLBP). Clinically proven to reduce pain intensity and interference, RelieVRx offers a cost-effective, non-pharmacologic treatment option.
How RelieVRx Works
Chronic pain imposes a significant economic burden on the United States, estimated at $635 billion annually. RelieVRx offers a potential solution for managing chronic back pain and reducing its associated costs.
RelieVRx features a 56-session program that addresses the bio-psycho-social aspects of pain. Patients use the device at home, completing daily VR sessions. RelieVRx has a user-friendly interface and has received high usability ratings in clinical testing.
Expanding Access to RelieVRx
Highmark’s decision to cover RelieVRx is a major step forward in making this innovative therapy accessible to more patients. 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.
“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.”
