US Health Insurer Adds Israeli Migraine Treatment To Coverage

American non-profit health insurer Highmark has added an Israeli migraine treatment band to the items covered by its insurance policies. 

The Nerivio Remote Electrical Neuromodulation (REN) migraine band, developed by Netanya-based Theranica, is placed on the upper arm as soon as a migraine starts (or even used as a preventative measure), and vibrates at an intensity just below the patient’s pain threshold.

It causes nerve fibers in the body to deliver a message to the brain, where it decides that the sensation is harmless and releases neurotransmitters to prevent the sufferer from feeling pain – including in their head. The band can be used on people 12 and older.

The addition by Highmark, which covers around 7 million people in the Pennsylvania area, came after the completion of its own November 2022 study of the band’s clinical benefits, involving more than 384 chronic migraine sufferers. 

“The [Coverage with Evidence Development] CED study shows statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefits to migraine patients treated with the REN wearable in a real-world environment,” said Andrea Synowiec, vice chair of the Department of Neurology at Allegheny Health Network in Pennsylvania, who led the CED program.

“This data highlights the importance of including REN among migraine therapies covered by insurance to address the unmet need for effective, safe, easy-to-use migraine intervention,” she said.

“This is a huge milestone in our global commitment to improving the quality of life of adolescents and adults living with this chronic disease. US health insurance companies have traditionally neglected non-pharmacological therapies for migraine,” said Alon Ironi, CEO and co-founder of Theranica.