How Much Do Amen Clinics Cost?

Last Updated on April 25, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Founded by renowned psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen, Amen Clinics have become widely recognized for their innovative approaches to evaluating and treating conditions like depression, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, and more using tools like SPECT brain imaging.

But the comprehensive and high-tech nature of their services also warrants a substantial investment compared to traditional therapy options.

In this guide, we’ll break down the myriad factors influencing Amen Clinic pricing, provide real-world examples of typical costs for assessments and treatment modalities, overview insurance coverage and financing options, and analyze the value relative to standard psychiatric care.

How Much Do Amen Clinics Cost?

At Amen Clinics costs for comprehensive evaluation packages start around $3,000 – $5,000. Ongoing treatment plans can range from $500 to $2,000+ per month depending on the services prescribed. Insurance coverage can offset portions of these costs.

The first step in Amen Clinics’ highly personalized process involves intensive evaluation of a patient’s symptoms, medical history, family history, and health goals. Typical costs associated with initial assessments include:

• Initial 90-Minute Psychiatry Consultation– $400 for the introductory appointment with a psychiatric specialist, of which $250 may be covered by insurance if the doctor is in-network.
• Computerized Mental Health Questionnaires– $175 for multiple diagnostic surveys and self-assessments on topics like depression, anxiety, cognitive function, ADD, and more.
• Clinical Testing with a Psychologist or PhD– $2,000 for 6+ hours of cognitive and neuropsychological assessments analyzing IQ, memory, processing speed, and executive functioning.
• Personalized Treatment Planning– $975 for the clinical team to evaluate all collected patient data points and design an integrated, tailored treatment protocol.

While expensive, Amen Clinics maintain this extensive upfront evaluation enables far more successful personalized treatment approaches compared to standard generalized psychiatric care. But diagnostic testing is just the beginning.

The clinic typically requires a deposit of $500 – $1,500 to secure an appointment, and the cost of treatment can start at $5,300 for two SPECT scans, as mentioned in the source from Cognitive FX.

Additionally, the clinic offers various pricing packages, such as the fNCI Only package for $3,500, which provides in-depth data on specific brain injuries, and the fNCI + At-home Action Plan package for $4,500, which includes the fNCI and a post-scan meeting with the treatment team.

According to their website, the cost of Amen Clinics varies depending on the type of evaluation and treatment required. A deposit of $500 to $1,500 is required to secure an appointment, and prices are subject to change until paid in full.

An Introduction to Amen Clinics

Amen Clinics operate a nationwide network of outpatient mental health clinics across nine states, specializing in the use of cutting-edge brain SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging technology and highly customized treatment protocols.

SPECT imaging provides detailed functional maps of cerebral blood flow and activity patterns throughout the brain. This allows Amen Clinics’ physicians to identify specific regions of overactivity or underactivity associated with particular psychiatric diseases and symptoms. Pinpointed diagnoses then inform tailored multidimensional treatment plans combining medication, nutraceuticals, cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes, and other interventions.

This integrated, research-driven approach aims to address the underlying biological factors influencing each patient’s conditions, rather than merely medicating non-specific symptoms. But it also comes at a premium price point compared to general psychiatric therapy.

Overview of Services Offered at Amen Clinics

Amen Clinics offer a full spectrum of mental healthcare services, including:

• Initial psychiatric diagnostic evaluations and ongoing medication management
• SPECT neuroimaging to precisely identify areas of healthy versus abnormal brain functioning
• Computerized cognitive and IQ testing to assess memory, attention, processing speed, and reasoning
• Individual and group psychotherapy sessions using cognitive behavioral therapy principles
• Personalized nutritional counseling and diet optimization plans to support brain health
• Supplement recommendations of vitamins, nutraceuticals, and botanicals to correct deficiencies
• FDA-approved rTMS transcranial magnetic stimulation to stimulate underactive brain regions and treat depression
• HRV biofeedback training to help patients regulate emotional responses and better manage stress and anxiety
• Metabolic testing to examine biomarkers influencing mental health

The goal of this integrated care approach is addressing the unique root causes contributing to each patient’s conditions, rather than merely medicating broad symptom clusters.

What Drives Costs at Amen Clinics?

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As high-end concierge medical practices, costs at Amen Clinics are substantially higher than general psychotherapy options due to:

• The extensive time devoted to comprehensive 2-3 hour long initial diagnostic evaluations by psychiatric specialists
• State-of-the-art specialized diagnostic testing like SPECT brain scans not typically covered by insurance
• Highly customized and ever-evolving treatment protocols combining multiple modalities like therapy, medications, diet, and nutraceuticals
• Relatively low patient volume allowing physicians to dedicate greater focus to each individual
• Leading experts including psychiatric specialists and PhDs as treatment staff
• Premium clinic environments designed for comfort with amenities like massage chairs
• Higher staff-to-patient ratios to facilitate personal attention

But loyal patients believe the enhanced treatment experience, access to renowned experts, and clinical results ultimately justify the elevated prices.

Pricing for Amen Clinics’ SPECT Brain Imaging

At the core of the Amen Clinics approach are SPECT brain scans used to identify areas of healthy versus abnormal brain activity influencing the patient’s symptoms. Typical fees for these imaging services are:

• Resting SPECT Scan– $1,999 to illustrate baseline brain blood flow and activity patterns when the patient is at rest.
• Concentration SPECT Scan– $1,999 to monitor changes in brain activation while the patient performs tasks requiring focused attention.
• Post-Treatment or Intervention SPECT Scan– $1,999 to compare before-and-after imaging, evaluating areas improved by treatment.

In some cases, insurance providers may cover 50-80% of SPECT scanning costs if deemed clinically necessary. But policies and reimbursement vary widely.

Ongoing Therapy Costs at Amen Clinics

Once diagnosed, patients embark on their tailored treatment plans, with pricing including:

• Medication Management Sessions– $400 per hour for appointments to prescribe or adjust psychiatric medications.
• Individual Psychotherapy– $250 per 45–50-minute one-on-one counseling and therapy session.
• Group Therapy– $100 per hour for peer discussion-based group therapy sessions.
• Family Therapy– $250 per hour for sessions aiming to improve family dynamics and support systems.
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation– $500 per 20–30-minute FDA-cleared non-invasive TMS session used to stimulate underactive brain regions and treat depression.

The frequency and types of therapy prescribed depend on each patient’s response and clinical needs identified during initial assessments.

Other Healthcare Costs at Amen Clinics

A range of supplemental services and expenses may also be integrated into personalized treatment plans:

• Prescription Medications– Cost is widely variable based on the drug type, dosage/frequency, and duration. These expenses are eligible for insurance coverage.
• Nutritional Counseling– $500 per hour for collaborating with nutrition experts to develop customized dietary and meal guidance.
• Targeted Nutraceutical Supplements– $100 – $300+ per month for medical-grade vitamins, amino acids, plant extracts, and other supplements to correct deficiencies identified through testing.
• Neurofeedback Sessions– $200 per 30–60-minute computer-guided, brain-training neurofeedback session.
• Follow-Up Assessments– $250 per follow-up progress scan, lab test, or specialized psychiatric exam.

Successfully treating complex conditions holistically incurs layers of costs depending on each patient’s unique needs.

Insurance Coverage and Amen Clinics

Some health insurance plans cover a portion of costs at Amen Clinics, such as:

• Initial psychiatry consultation fees
• Basic resting or intervention SPECT brain scans for covered diagnoses like depression, dementia, or epilepsy
• Therapy and counseling sessions conducted by properly licensed providers
• Prescription medications through the medical pharmacy
• Any in-network lab tests or medical services

But verification of exact policy coverage is essential, as many components of Amen’s concierge treatment model exceed standard medical necessity criteria. Uncovered costs for testing, therapy frequency, and nutraceuticals quickly accumulate through this intensive, multi-modal care.

Financial Assistance and Payment Plans

To ease the burden of high-end personalized mental healthcare costs for patients, Amen Clinics offer:

• Significant fee discounts for prepaying a portion of anticipated treatment costs upfront
• Interest-free payment plans by partnering with medical financing companies
• Acceptance of tax-advantaged HSA, FSA, and HRA spending accounts towards qualified expenses
• Published self-pay price lists to allow prospective patients to accurately budget for services
• Reduced-cost treatment for qualifying clinical research study participants

Leveraging payment plans where appropriate facilitates access to this elite model for a wider audience. But costs remain a limiting factor.

Cost Comparison to Traditional Therapy

To put Amen Clinic pricing into perspective, traditional psychotherapy and medication management usually costs:

• $100 – $250 per weekly/bi-weekly therapy session with a licensed counselor or clinical social worker
• $250 – $400 for an initial psychiatric diagnostic evaluation and medication prescription
• $0 – $500+ for basic testing like bloodwork, urinalysis, or X-rays as needed
• $0 for general diagnostic treatment planning

So, on the whole, concierge mental healthcare at Amen Clinics ranges from 2x to 5x higher thanks to the inclusion of specialized diagnostics like SPECT imaging, highly personalized and intensified treatment regimens, and premium clinic settings and staffing.

But loyal patients contend the clinical benefits and improved quality of life outcomes ultimately justify the elevated costs compared to traditional psychiatry options. As always, shop within your budget while prioritizing quality and value.

Final Words

For patients whose conditions have defied standard medication-based psychiatric treatment, the higher upfront and ongoing costs of Amen Clinics’ comprehensive evaluations, SPECT scans, and tailored multidimensional protocols can indeed provide life-changing solutions where other methods have failed. But less severe or complex cases may not warrant or require such an extensive and costly approach.

Carefully weigh the benefits against costs in the context of your specific needs, values, and financial situation to make the most educated choice. With reasonable expectations set, Amen Clinics offer new hope to those struggling with advanced, treatment-resistant mental health diagnoses, provided the investment fits within their budget limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the criticism of Amen Clinics?

Critics argue diagnoses derived from SPECT scans lack sufficient clinical evidence and should not solely determine treatment plans. Some also dispute the first-line use of nutraceuticals before trying approved medications with more substantive research.

How much does the Amen brain scan cost?

The list price for a standard SPECT scan at Amen Clinics is approximately $1,999. Some health insurance plans may cover 50-80% if deemed medically necessary for a documented condition. Discounted packages are available when purchasing multiple scans.

Can SPECT detect anxiety?

Yes, SPECT imaging can identify regions of overactivity or underactivity that may contribute to anxiety symptoms. But clinical correlation with evaluations remains vital for an accurate diagnosis. SPECT scans complement traditional assessments rather than replacing them.