Value of Care
We recognize that navigating the various options of ketamine for depression can be confusing, and that cost of care is a primary consideration for most people. At Ember Health, we are confident that we offer the greatest value per dollar spent to alleviate depression. Here’s why:
We only administer intravenous (IV) ketamine treatment.
The effectiveness of ketamine in alleviating depression varies widely depending on how it is administered. Data supports that intravenous (IV) ketamine helps 75% of people with treatment resistant depression (source) whereas intranasal helps around 30-40% (source), oral helps 20-30% (source), and intramuscular helps around 30-50% (source).
Relatedly, the duration of benefit varies dramatically by route of administration. While the antidepressant effect of IV ketamine for our patients lasts an average of six weeks, patients taking oral and nasal ketamine with other providers are often instructed to engage in treatments multiple times a week (source). Those extra sessions can add up financially!
We have a medical professional in the room throughout the entire infusion.
Some ketamine providers aim to keep costs lower by leaving patients unmonitored during their sessions. At Ember Health, we are committed to the clinical and psychological safety of our patients. We therefore have a medical professional trained in IV administration and therapeutic communications present throughout each patient’s entire treatment in their private infusion suite. This is in accordance with the FDA’s 2023 warning statement against ketamine care without medical supervision.
We only recommend four foundational treatments.
Literature supports that four infusions over two weeks as an initial course of care is just as effective as six or more (source). Conscious of keeping care as financially accessible as possible, we therefore recommend four initial infusions before assessing treatment effectiveness for each patient. Many other providers require six, adding 30% cost without data to justify this additional expense.
We only ever charge for in-person care.
Many providers charge patients for services outside of ketamine treatment, from the initial consultation call, to membership fees, to requiring the services of additional in-house care providers. At Ember, we’re committed to simple, transparent pricing. We only charge patients for in-person care. We charge a one time fee for an initial orientation visit with our physician and a single fee for each ketamine infusion. That’s it. We conduct extensive education, care planning, and coordination with mental health teams, but do not charge for those services. We believe in no hidden fees or unwanted surprises.
We individualize long term care.
Many providers suggest a standard, “cookie cutter” approach to follow up ketamine care. For most people, the frequency of treatment recommended by such providers is not necessary, and results in large expenses that are not tied to individual needs or outcomes. At Ember, we craft individualized care plans that suggest patients only come in as often as their depressive symptoms return. While some patients may come in twice a month, others only need to come in twice a year, and we tailor plans accordingly.
Whether or not you pursue care with us, we hope the outlining of these distinctions can help you advocate effectively for your wellbeing. We encourage you to ask the following questions of any provider to help you get the most value from your care:
Do you administer IV ketamine?
Is there a medical professional monitoring at all times?
How many infusions do you recommend for the foundational course of care?
Do you charge for anything outside of infusions?
How do you determine how frequently I need follow up care?