Comment from Andrew Aherne

I'm writing this letter of support to highlight the benefits of IV ketamine in the treatment of depression. I am an emergency medicine physician by training, familiar with the use of ketamine as an anesthetic agent, as well as the management of mental health crises. Three years ago, I started working at an organization called Ember Health, whose mission is to provide IV ketamine for patients suffering from multiple forms of depression, including major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, and treatment resistant depression. Since my time here, I have seen over and over again how impactful this treatment can be. I've worked with individuals who have struggled with debilitating life long depression, have tried multiple treatment modalities with limited success, and come to us desperate for a change, and I've seen IV ketamine provide that change. I've seen it eliminate suicidality in patients who would have previously thought about ending their lives every day. I've seen it lift people out of non-functional states, allowing them to reclaim their sense of self-worth and purpose. I've also seen it reignite in people the passion for family, work, and life as a whole. I've also seen that the way ketamine is administered is as important as the medicine itself. IV ketamine has consistently shown to provide more significant and durable relief than any other formulation available, and when administered by an experienced professional in a setting that provides holistic support and supervision, the impact can be remarkable. All of that said, the most challenging part of this work is knowing the limits of accessibility for so many people suffering from depression. Some of the most difficult conversations I have are with people who have started care with us, have experienced significant symptom relief, but are unable to continue maintenance treatment due to financial constraints. I can think of few things more discouraging than an individual knowing there is a therapy out there that can finally provide them with meaningful relief, yet not having the financial means to continue that treatment. Despite all that Ember Health does to make this treatment as affordable as possible, including a sliding scale for those who qualify, it can still be a significant financial hurdle for many. Insurance coverage for this treatment would be tremendously life changing for so many. As such, I am truly grateful for this opportunity to advocate for the consideration of FDA approval of IV ketamine for the treatment of depression, on behalf of the hundreds of patients that I've worked with who have been able to reclaim their lives, and the many thousands more that would stand to benefit from it in the future.