TMS Therapy Providers in Missouri

What it is

TMS uses magnetic pulses to stimulate a part of the brain linked to mood. A coil rests against your head while you sit in a chair. You're awake the whole time, and you don't need anesthesia. It's done in a clinic or office [1].

A standard course is one session a day, 5 days a week, for 4 to 6 weeks. Sessions take about 3 to 40 minutes, depending on the method. Some clinics offer faster plans with several sessions a day for about a week [1].

FDA first cleared a TMS device for depression in 2008. Devices are now also cleared for OCD, migraine, smoking cessation and depression with anxiety [1].

Common side effects are mild: scalp discomfort, tingling or twitching in the face, and headache. Seizures can happen but are rare [1].

Who it's for

TMS is mainly for adults with major depression who haven't gotten better after trying at least one antidepressant [1]. Medicare's rules also allow it if you couldn't tolerate antidepressants [2][3]. In 2024, FDA cleared TMS as an add-on treatment for teens 15 and older [1].

TMS may be a good next step if you want to avoid the anesthesia used for ECT, or if medicine changes haven't helped.

It isn't right for everyone. Implanted metal or devices near the coil, such as a pacemaker, cochlear implant or nerve stimulator, rule it out. A history of seizures or current psychosis may also rule it out [2]. The TMS provider will screen you first.

TMS is not a crisis treatment. If you're having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 or go to the nearest emergency room [4].

Cost and coverage

TMS is billed per session, and a full course means 20 to 30 or more visits. Without insurance, the total can be high, so ask for a written estimate for the whole course.

Commercial insurance. If your plan covers TMS, it may need to approve it before you start. This is called prior authorization. Expect to need a depression diagnosis and records of the medicines you've tried. Ask whether the clinic handles this paperwork.

Medicare. Medicare covers TMS for major depression through regional rules called local coverage determinations. In one region, you need a confirmed diagnosis of severe major depression and at least one medicine that didn't work or that you couldn't tolerate. A psychiatrist must order the treatment after seeing you in person [2]. Another region also covers people who responded to TMS in an earlier episode [3]. Ask the clinic which rules apply in Missouri.

Medicaid. Coverage depends on your state's program. Ask the clinic whether it accepts Missouri Medicaid and what approval is needed.

For more on depression treatment options, see our depression guide.

How to choose a provider

Ask about the device. Ask which FDA-cleared TMS device the clinic uses and which type of treatment it offers. Some use standard daily sessions. Others offer accelerated plans.

Ask who's in charge. A psychiatrist should evaluate you, plan your treatment and check your progress. Ask who runs each session and how often a doctor reviews your results.

Ask how many sessions. Ask how many sessions they expect, how they measure progress and what happens if you don't improve. Ask about follow-up or repeat courses if symptoms return.

Ask about insurance help. Ask whether they'll handle prior authorization, and what you'll owe if a session isn't covered. Get the plan in writing.

Think about the schedule. You may need to come in 5 days a week for several weeks. A clinic close to home or work can make that easier.

Confirm the basics yourself. Call to check insurance, new-patient openings and wait times. We don't verify these.