Expansion Update
Last month, we shared some information about our joint venture with ATMA Journey Centers in Calgary: ATMA-CENA Psychedelic Healthcare Solutions. We are excited to say that this venture is already moving forward in opening new clinics in London and Toronto, ON!
ATMA CENA Psychedelic Healthcare Solutions (PHS), is focused on expanding safe and regulatory compliant access to psychedelic-assisted therapy (PaT) through a network of member clinics. Our goal by welcoming & supporting our member clinics is to make the highest quality of care accessible no matter where you are in Canada. We want our member clinics to have a streamlined process to provide care in accordance with emerging regulations in Canada. The administrative work required can be daunting, and we want to demystify this work and lighten the load for clinics & practitioners Nation-wide.
Read our latest press release here!
Industry Advancement
In fall 2022, Alberta became the first province to regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health treatments. As of March 15th 2024, Blue Cross announced it will now offer coverage for these treatments! This is a massive step forward and we are thrilled that the Blue Cross team put in so much effort to make this happen.
Claims made for psychedelic therapy within Alberta are eligible for reimbursement under a plan member’s drug and psychology benefits. Reimbursement will depend on the member’s existing plan coverage and what services the psychedelic therapy session includes. Reimbursement will also be subject to the member’s plan maximums and provider eligibility criteria.With this new change, plan members can also claim associated services delivered in conjunction with psychedelic therapy, such as assessment, drug administration and monitoring that is performed on the same day as the therapy.
This is groundbreaking news that will open doors for many individuals who would not be able to access these treatments without coverage.
You can read the lastest press release here!
Have you ever heard of the CPSA? The College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) serves as the regulatory body governing the practice of medicine in the province of Alberta, Canada.
Established to safeguard the health and well-being of Albertans, CPSA sets and upholds standards for the medical profession, ensuring that physicians and surgeons meet stringent criteria for competence, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
Through its regulatory functions, CPSA oversees the licensing, registration, and discipline of physicians and surgeons, as well as the accreditation of medical facilities and educational programs.
Cena Life is proud to be working through CPSA accreditation. This accreditation holds considerable value for both our team and our patients. Accreditation by CPSA signifies that a program has met rigorous standards of training, education, and ethical conduct that are required to offer services safely and effectively in Alberta. The process of Psychedelic-assisted therapy accreditation is extensive and we look forward to sharing our clinic processes and practices during our on site visit with the CPSA auditors.
From a patient perspective, CPSA accreditation offers the assurance of receiving quality healthcare services from accredited physicians & surgeons who adhere to the highest professional standards. Patients can trust that CPSA-accredited practitioners have undergone rigorous assessment and adhere to ethical guidelines, promoting trust, transparency, and accountability in the delivery of healthcare services. Furthermore, CPSA accreditation contributes to the overall enhancement of healthcare quality and safety in Alberta, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and excellence within the medical profession and across the interdisciplinary team.
For Cena Life, CPSA accreditation not only validates our experience and expertise in the field of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, it acknowledges our competence in our roles and the safety of our services.
Have you ever heard of rTMS, or Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation?
rTMS is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that has a very direct influence on your brain physiology. During rTMS therapy, electromagnetic coils are placed on specific regions of the scalp, generating magnetic pulses that induce electrical currents in targeted areas of the brain.
When the pulses pass through the scalp and skull, they stimulate the neurons of the brain’s cortex.
The repetitive stimulation can modulate the excitability of neural circuits, leading to changes in neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity (synaptic plasticity refers to the ability of synapses to change in structure, playing a fundamental role in learning, memory, and neural adaptation). These changes may result in alterations in brain function, such as increasing or decreasing activity in specific regions associated with the targeted disorder.
For example, in depression treatment, rTMS is often applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is thought to be underactive in individuals with depression. By stimulating this region, rTMS can increase neuronal activity and restore the balance of neurotransmitters involved in mood regulation.
rTMS has numerous benefits! This treatment produces very few adverse effects, has little to no recovery period, and many individuals experience long-lasting improvements in their symptoms. The cumulative effects of repeated sessions can lead to sustained improvements in mood, anxiety levels, and overall well-being.
We are excited to have purchased an rTMS machine and will begin offering rTMS services as soon as April 8th! Learn more about this ground breaking treatment and whether it could help you on your mental health journey!