Highmark Drafts Coverage for BrainsWay’s Accelerated Deep TMS Protocol
Event summary
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield released a draft policy expanding coverage for BrainsWay’s accelerated Deep TMS™ protocol for adolescent and adult MDD patients.
- The policy, effective February 2026, covers BrainsWay’s SWIFT™ protocol, which reduces clinic visits with a structured 38-session treatment plan.
- BrainsWay’s accelerated protocol was FDA-cleared in September 2025, backed by a trial showing 87.8% response and 78.0% remission rates.
- Highmark serves over seven million lives across Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and parts of New York.
The big picture
Highmark’s draft policy marks a strategic shift toward broader adoption of BrainsWay’s accelerated Deep TMS protocol, aligning with the industry trend of optimizing mental health treatments for efficiency and accessibility. The move follows BrainsWay’s FDA clearance in 2025, reinforcing the protocol’s clinical validity. With Highmark’s extensive coverage footprint, this expansion could accelerate market penetration for BrainsWay’s innovative neurostimulation technology.
What we're watching
- Coverage Finalization
- Whether Highmark’s draft policy advances to formal adoption after the open comment period.
- Payer Adoption
- The pace at which other payers follow Highmark in covering BrainsWay’s accelerated protocol.
- Clinical Impact
- How the reduced clinic visits affect patient compliance and treatment outcomes.
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