Treating serious mental illness is not just a good thing to do for altruistic reasons. It also can improve health outcomes and reduce cost for those with comorbid physical conditions as well. Vincent Joralemon writes in Health Affairs Forefront regarding this issue. The article quotes Sherry Rais, CEO of Enthea:
Ten percent of patients drive roughly 70 percent of health care spending, and more than half have a mental health condition. “Mental health isn’t just a carve-out problem—it’s a multiplier,” Rais explained. “People with untreated or poorly treated mental health conditions have medical costs that are roughly three to six times higher than those without.”
One potential solution to some mental illnesses is the use of psychedelics. However, the psychedelics are often costly, even if the medications themselves are relatively inexpensive. Why?
“One of the reasons that psychedelic therapy is expensive is it’s not a pill, it’s a bundle of services,” Marseille explained. “It’s not like filling a prescription for SSRIs. Even if the drugs themselves were very cheap, the delivery can still be expensive.”
What is included in this ‘bundle’? Consider the case of MDMA:
Marseille’s own research, based on Phase 3 trial data, estimated MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD at roughly $12,000 per course; this includes three preparation sessions, three eight-hour dosing sessions with two therapists present, and nine integration sessions afterwards, totaling approximately 42 hours of clinician time. Recent industry-sponsored models have projected costs of approximately $48,000.
Because the treatment involves both medication and significant medical oversight, the cost can be prohibitive. Will payers step up to the plate to cover the use of psychedelics where they are shown to be safe and effective? As new psychedelic molecules enter the market, only time will tell.
