The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is partnering with AppliedVR to enhance access to virtual reality (VR)-based therapy for military veterans dealing with chronic lower back pain. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), of which VHA is a part, has expanded its contract with AppliedVR to support the FDA-authorized RelieVRx program, a home-based solution designed to address chronic pain.
Since 2020, AppliedVR and the VA have been collaborating, initially piloting VR-based solutions to provide comfort to veterans in palliative care and improve the quality of life for those experiencing general chronic pain, stress, and anxiety in various healthcare settings.
The contract with AppliedVR was facilitated through VA Immersive, a division of the VHA Office of Healthcare Innovation and Learning (OHIL). This division focuses on testing innovative healthcare technologies like VR and augmented reality in clinical settings, aiming to revolutionize care delivery and patient experiences.
Given that more than 50% of veterans receiving care at VA facilities suffer from chronic pain, the VHA has intensified efforts to explore innovative, drug-free approaches. Addressing mental health issues among veterans, particularly those overlapping with chronic pain, is a key priority. VR has shown promise in reducing anxiety, and the VA has been leveraging VR for years to treat post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans.
Matthew Stoudt, Co-founder and CEO of AppliedVR, highlighted the VA’s early adoption of immersive technology as medicine over nearly three decades. The recent contract expansion, initiated in December 2022, enables doctors at 16 VA facilities to prescribe AppliedVR’s VR-based pain treatment for veterans to use at home.
The flagship product, RelieVRx, received FDA marketing authorization in 2021 for chronic lower back pain. It comprises a headset and software guiding patients through pain management exercises, making it the first FDA-authorized in-home immersive VR pain treatment for chronic lower back pain.
The partnership with the VA aims to establish national guidelines for prescribing VR for home use, facilitating broader accessibility for veterans. AppliedVR’s VR-based therapy has demonstrated positive clinical outcomes, including a decrease in pain intensity and interference in the lives of individuals with chronic lower back pain.
Through various collaborations, the VA has deployed over 2,200 virtual reality headsets across more than 165 VA medical centers and 18 additional sites of care in all 50 states. VA Immersive’s mission is to set national standards for leveraging VR, accelerating the adoption of immersive therapeutics like RelieVRx.
AppliedVR’s unique approach as a medical device, rather than a traditional prescription digital therapeutic, has proven advantageous. The company obtained FDA de novo clearance and secured Medicare reimbursement, with RelieVRx becoming the first immersive therapeutic covered by Medicare. This distinguishes AppliedVR from other digital therapeutics, which have faced challenges in the market.
Despite being in the early stages of commercialization, AppliedVR has demonstrated high levels of adherence, a critical factor in the success of digital medicine. The company’s innovative approach positions it as a leader in providing effective and accessible VR-based treatments to a broad patient population, including veterans.
- : public
