Staff Reports | Science & Technology
More than 1.3 million adults and about 139,000 teens in Arizona experience depression or another mental health condition each year. (Submitted Photos/DigitalFreePress)
The FDA’s recent clearance of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for adolescents with major depressive disorder is expected to strengthen Arizona’s role in next-generation mental health technology and expand access to reimbursable care statewide, according to a press release.
TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate underactive brain regions associated with depression. Previously approved for adults, the new clearance for teens marks a shift in behavioral health delivery and opens coverage for younger patients.
“Insurers too often act as gatekeepers. This FDA approval dismantles that barrier,” said Dr. Houshang Aminian, medical director at American TMS Clinics.
“Adolescents who have not responded to therapy or medication, or who cannot tolerate side effects, now have access to a treatment that is safe, non-invasive and evidence-based.”
Arizona’s health-tech ecosystem, from Scottsdale to Chandler, is emerging as a hub for data-driven behavioral therapies. With adolescent TMS now covered by major insurers, providers are scaling operations, investors are watching and employers are beginning to quantify the economic value of improved youth mental health.
More than 1.3 million adults and about 139,000 teens in Arizona experience depression or another mental health condition each year. Yet more than 2 million residents live in areas with too few mental health professionals, and the state ranks near the bottom nationally for access to care. Expanding coverage for non-drug treatments like TMS offers both a public health solution and a growth opportunity for Arizona’s behavioral health market.
“TMS does more than mask symptoms. It restores function to the brain,” said Juliane Popelko, CEO of American TMS Clinics. “For Arizona’s economy, that means fewer crises, stronger families and more productive communities,” Ms. Popelko said.
American TMS integrates 20-channel EEG brain mapping to track patient progress, a data-driven approach that appeals to payers and providers. Its dual focus on adolescent and adult patients reinforces continuity of care and positions the clinic as a scalable model in Arizona’s innovation economy.
“This is a long-fought milestone,” Dr. Aminian said. “Insurers can no longer hide behind red tape. These kids deserve care, and we are ready to deliver it.”
