FAQs

How long does it take to become a patient?

Faster than you might expect — and for many people, faster than anywhere else they've called.

For psychiatric services (evaluations and medication management): typically 1 to 2 days from your first contact to a scheduled appointment. The process is simple: reach out by phone, text, or our online booking link, and our Director of Patient Care will connect with you for a brief discovery call to understand what you're looking for and answer your questions. From there we verify your insurance through Headway (or review self-pay options), send your intake forms electronically, and schedule your comprehensive psychiatric evaluation;  often within the same week, with telehealth appointments available. If medication is appropriate, prescriptions can begin at that first evaluation.

If you've ever waited weeks or months for a psychiatric appointment — the most common barrier to mental health care in Colorado — this is the part where we're proudly different.

For ketamine infusion therapy: typically about one week from first contact to your first infusion, and sometimes faster. Ketamine therapy is a medical treatment, so the path includes one extra, important step: every ketamine patient begins with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and medical clearance with our clinical team. This isn't red tape — it's how we confirm ketamine is safe and appropriate for you, review your medications and health history, tailor your dosing protocol, and answer every question before your first treatment. It's also one reason our safety record spans more than 17,000 infusions. (A bonus: for patients with commercial insurance, this required evaluation is often billable to insurance, reducing the initial out-of-pocket cost of starting ketamine therapy.)

After clearance, your induction series is scheduled at whatever pace fits your life — some patients complete their six mood-protocol infusions in two weeks, others space them out longer.

You can generally be evaluated within days and, if ketamine is right for you, in the infusion chair within about a week — while still getting the thorough medical screening a treatment like this deserves. If your situation feels urgent, tell us when you call; we do our best to accommodate patients who need to start quickly.

The intake process must be completed before any psychiatric or Ketamine treatment is approved and scheduled

Will you accept my current psychiatric provider's referral for Ketamine treatment?

All new patients must complete a thorough psychiatric assessment and be cleared for Ketamine treatment. While we do ask for current psychiatric records to confirm your diagnosis and to collaborate with your current providers, we do require a psychiatric assessment as part of our intake process.

Please note: we are unable to accept psychiatric referrals from therapists who are not able to medically clear a person for a controlled substance medication. We collaborate with therapists and other current healthcare providers for integration and continuity of care.

How long does it take to complete the Ketamine infusion intake?

If you choose to schedule your psychiatric assessment with a Rocky Mountain Mind and Body Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, the intake process typically takes 2 to 5 days if you complete all the required intake forms, medical history, and consents.

How quick can I schedule Ketamine infusion appointments?

Once your intake process is complete and you are cleared for Ketamine infusion therapy treatment, we are currently scheduling initial infusions approximately 3 to 5 days out for 90 minute mood appointments.

Do You Accept Insurance?

Yes. Rocky Mountain Mind and Body now accepts most major Colorado commercial insurance plans for psychiatric services through our insurance platform, Headway.Insurance may be used for covered psychiatric services such as:

• Psychiatric evaluations
• Psychiatric medication management
• Follow-up psychiatric appointments

To check whether your insurance may cover psychiatric services with Steve Gittelman, CRNA, PMHNP, please click here and select “Add Insurance” in the right column to verify your coverage through Headway.

Headway manages insurance verification, billing, copays, deductibles, and claims for covered psychiatric services. Once your insurance is verified, our team can help schedule your psychiatric appointments directly.

PLEASE NOTE: Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) prescription evaluations are private pay and are not covered by insurance at the present time.

Is Ketamine Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Ketamine therapy for mood disorders and chronic pain may still be considered out-of-network or may not be covered by your insurance plan.

Coverage for ketamine therapy varies widely by insurance carrier, plan type, diagnosis, and medical necessity requirements. Because every plan is different, patients are responsible for contacting their insurance company directly to ask whether ketamine therapy is covered under their benefits.

We are happy to provide applicable billing codes when available so you can speak with your insurance company before starting treatment.

If ketamine therapy is not covered by your insurance, it remains a self-pay service. Payment is required according to our clinic’s current payment policies, including prepayment for ketamine infusion treatments.

Can You Provide a Superbill?

For services that are not billed through Headway or are considered out-of-network, we may be able to provide a superbill upon request. A superbill is a detailed receipt that includes applicable billing codes and service information.

Some insurance plans may reimburse patients for a portion of out-of-network care, but reimbursement is never guaranteed. We recommend contacting your insurance company before your appointment to confirm whether superbill submission is allowed under your plan.

How Often Will I Need Psychiatric Medication Management Appointments?

The frequency of psychiatric medication management visits depends on your individual needs, symptoms, medications, and treatment goals.

When we are working to stabilize symptoms or manage medication changes or side effects, follow-up appointments may be recommended every 4–6 weeks. Once symptoms are more stable, appointments may be spaced farther apart, often every three months or longer for ongoing medication management.

We collaborate with you throughout the process and aim to recommend care that is clinically appropriate without creating unnecessary appointments.

How Often Will I Need Ketamine Infusion Treatments?

For mood disorders, the typical ketamine infusion protocol begins with an induction series of six infusions. After the induction phase, patients may enter a maintenance phase of treatment.

Maintenance needs vary from person to person. Some patients return within a few weeks, while others may go several months or longer between maintenance infusions. The timing depends on your condition, your response to treatment, your goals, and your provider’s clinical recommendations.

For chronic pain conditions, including CRPS and neuropathic pain, treatment planning may look different and is individualized based on your medical history, pain condition, and response to therapy.

Important Insurance Notes

Rocky Mountain Mind and Body does not accept all insurance plans directly. Insurance-covered psychiatric services are billed through Headway when eligibility is verified and the service is covered.

Ketamine therapy, preparation appointments, integration services, chronic pain infusion protocols, and other services may not be covered by insurance and may remain private-pay.

Patients enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare should contact our office before scheduling so we can confirm what services we are legally and contractually able to provide.

 

What Insurance plans do you accept?

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept credit cards, FSA/HSA/HRA cards, cash, and the Advance Care Card. Please check your FSA/HSA/HRA accounts for eligibility requirements.

Are there other financing options?

Rocky Mountain Mind and Body is listed as a Ketamine therapy provider under the Advanced Care Card which offers financing options for Ketamine Infusion Therapy.  Rocky Mountain Mind and Body does not set the terms of financing or have any control if you are approved for financing. We provide information on the Advanced Care Card as a courtesy only and have no other affiliation with them.  Please click the following link to research and contact the Advanced Care Card if interested in learning more.

Ketamine treatment contraindications?

There are several patient safety contraindications to Ketamine treatment for underlying conditions such as:

• uncontrolled hypertension
• certain heart diseases
• certain types of stroke
• bladder diseases
• elevated pressure in the eye
• schizophrenia
• active psychosis
• active mania
• being in the hypo-mania stage of bi-polar

The issues listed above are not inclusive and not intended to convey every contraindication to Ketamine treatment. A thorough psychiatric with medical assessment specific to Ketamine is extremely important and directly correlates to the potential success of Ketamine therapy.  Patient safety and providing the most effective treatment is our highest concern.

What are the age limits for Ketamine treatment?

We have extensive pediatric experience and treat patients from age 13 up. When considering treating patients under the age of 18, we collaborate closely with that patient's current medical and psychiatric healthcare providers to determine if Ketamine is an appropriate treatment.

Is Ketamine therapy a scientifically proven treatment?

The World Health Organization has listed Ketamine as an Ketamine WHO Essential Medicine. Additionally, The National Institute of Health has studied Ketamine for depression for more than 15 years. There is scientific research proving the effectiveness of this treatment, which means controlled, double-blind, peer-reviewed studies at major institutions. Researchers at Yale pioneered this research nearly 20 years ago and published the first major study in 2000. Since then, dozens more Ketamine studies have been conducted at Yale and other major institutions including NIH, The VA, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Mt. Sinai Medical School, Oxford University, and many more around the world.

How often will I need treatment?

We strive to minimize unnecessary visits. For medication management, we typically meet every 4–6 weeks while stabilizing symptoms or adjusting medications, then space visits to every three months or longer once you're feeling stable — always in collaboration with you.

For ketamine infusion therapy, mood treatment typically begins with an induction series of six infusions over a 2 to 3 week period, followed by a maintenance phase; some patients return within weeks, others extend to several months or longer, depending entirely on individual response and need.

Can Ketamine treatment relieve Depression, PTSD, Suicidal thoughts, bi-polar or OCD?

Approximately 75 to 80% of patients with treatment-resistant depression experience rapid relief after a low-dose Ketamine infusion treatment. Similar success rates have been seen in returning combat veterans suffering from PTSD.  Ketamine may work rapidly and may result in partial or complete remission of symptoms in a short period of time.

How long does Ketamine treatment last for depression and chronic pain?

Research shows a series of 6 treatments over 2 to 3 weeks may provide remission lasting months. Some patients may go 3-6 months before needing another maintenance treatment while some may need one treatment every few weeks to 1-2 months.  Each person's response to Ketamine infusion treatment varies. We work closely with you to determine the most effective and appropriate treatment plan.

What is Neuropathic Pain?

Neuropathic pain, also known as nerve pain, is a type of chronic pain that occurs when nerves in the central or peripheral (or both) nervous system become injured or damaged. It is a complex, chronic pain state that usually is accompanied by tissue injury. With neuropathic pain, the nerve fibers themselves might be damaged, dysfunctional, or injured. These damaged nerve fibers send incorrect signals to other pain centers. The impact of a nerve fiber injury includes a change in nerve function both at the site of injury and areas around the injury. If you or someone you care about has nerve pain, you know that it can erode quality of life.

What are some of the causes of Neuropathic Pain?

This is a partial list of causes:

• Alcoholism
• Amputation
• Chemotherapy
• Diabetes
• Facial nerve problems
• Multiple myeloma
• Multiple sclerosis
• Nerve or spinal cord compression from herniated discs or from arthritis in the spine
• Shingles
• Spine surgery
• Thyroid problems

Does Ketamine treat chronic nerve pain?

Scientific research has demonstrated Ketamine may be effective in 75% to 80% depending your the specific pain diagnosis. The mechanism of action is different than the medications used for acute pain such as dilaudid, percocet, vicodin, morphine and others. Ketamine blocks the NMDA receptors in the brain from receiving a constant barrage of input from pain receptors. Results may be felt  in as fast as 1-2 hours after receiving high dose Ketamine Infusion therapy. Potential long term relief requires a series of infusions.

Can ketamine help me take less opioid pain medication?

For many chronic pain patients, yes — and this is one of the most important benefits of ketamine therapy.

Ketamine works on pain through a completely different pathway in the nervous system than opioids do. In practical terms, that means two things. First, ketamine can relieve pain on its own, without adding to your opioid dose. Second, ketamine can make the opioids you do take work more effectively — so a smaller dose goes further.

The result: many of our patients are able to reduce their opioid use significantly — often by 50% or more — while keeping their pain controlled. Some patients, working with their prescribing physician, have been able to come off opioids entirely.

Why does this matter? Long-term opioid use carries real downsides: tolerance (needing more medication for the same relief), dependence, side effects like fatigue and brain fog, and — paradoxically — opioid-induced hypersensitivity, where long-term opioid use can actually make your nervous system more sensitive to pain over time. Lowering your opioid dose can mean fewer side effects, lower risk, clearer thinking, and often better pain control than escalating doses ever delivered.

One important note: never reduce or stop opioid medications on your own. Any changes to your opioid regimen should be made gradually and under the supervision of your prescribing physician. We're happy to coordinate with your pain management provider or physician as part of your care.