Several weeks later, the insurer went one step further, announcing a change in policy to include deep brain stimulation for certain conditions in children and adolescents.
“We are constantly reviewing our medical coverage policies to keep pace with the latest treatment standards and expert recommendations,” it said in a statement. “After reviewing new clinical information, we have updated our deep brain stimulation coverage policy to include pediatric and adolescent patients in the treatment of epilepsy, OCD and dystonia when all other clinical criteria are met.”
The change is “great news,” said Cambrie’s doctor, Guerriero.
“Changes like this are an important step in improving access to care,” Marupudi wrote in an email.
“I’m encouraged to see growing recognition of deep brain stimulation as a treatment option for carefully selected children with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy,” she wrote. “For some patients who have exhausted other therapies, DBS can make a meaningful difference in seizure burden and overall quality of life.”
Cambrie’s surgery is scheduled for June, and she is looking forward to a future with hopefully fewer seizures. “I wish they were never a part of me,” she said.
Clinton Mora is a reporter for Trending Insurance News. He has previously worked for the Forbes. As a contributor to Trending Insurance News, Clinton covers emerging a wide range of property and casualty insurance related stories.