Addressing the financial gap in IBS care

Many people with IBS struggle to access evidence-based brain-gut therapy because of out-of-pocket costs and financial barriers, despite it being recommended in leading clinical guidelines.

To close this gap, Nerva created the Patient Assistance Program (PAP) to make effective IBS care more affordable and accessible for every patient.

Through this program, coverage now extends up to full access at no cost for eligible patients.

How patients apply for the Patient Assistance Program

This simple two-step process ensures equitable access to brain-gut therapy without adding any administrative work for clinicians:

  1. Clinicians refer as per usual via Nerva’s secure online form.
  2. After a referral is received, patients receive an email from Nerva to complete the brief application.

How patients qualify for full or partial coverage

Applying for the PAP takes less than two minutes and asks a few key questions to determine eligibility for up to 100% coverage.

The survey includes:

  1. Government or public benefit status
    Patients are asked whether they currently hold a government health or income support card or receive equivalent public benefits (such as a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, NDIS, or Disability Support Pension).
  2. Household income
    Patients select their estimated total annual household income (before tax) within one of three ranges:
    • Less than $73,900
    • $73,901 – $147,800
    • More than $147,800
  3. Recent financial challenges
    Patients indicate whether they’ve experienced any of the following in the past six months:
    • Job loss or significant reduction in income
    • Major out-of-pocket medical expenses
    • Caregiving responsibilities affecting ability to work
    • Housing instability (e.g., eviction risk or homelessness)
  4. Ability to pay without a discount
    Patients are asked if they could afford Nerva without financial support, choosing from:
    • Yes
    • Maybe / Only with difficulty
    • No, I can’t afford any payment this time

How eligibility is determined

Based on responses, patients may receive one of three outcomes:

  • Full coverage (100% off) – for those experiencing significant hardship or holding a government benefit card
  • Partial coverage – for patients with moderate financial challenges
  • Standard 25% off – automatically applied to all clinician-referred patients

This tiered approach allows every patient to access support, regardless of financial circumstances, while prioritizing those in greatest need.

Automatic 25% coverage for all referred patients

Regardless of the Patient Assistance Program, all patients referred through Nerva’s  HIPAA-compliant clinician referral form automatically receive a 25% referral adjustment, reducing the annual subscription cost to $186.75 AUD or $149.25 USD.

This discount is applied universally to every form-based referral, helping remove a key cost barrier for patients seeking evidence-based brain-gut therapy.

Supporting equity and implementation in clinical practice

By simplifying financial access and minimizing clinician workload, the Patient Assistance Program supports more consistent implementation of guideline-supported brain-gut therapies across patient populations.

In practice, this helps clinicians align with new quality indicators from leading gastroenterology societies like the AGA and pediatric guidelines from NASPGHAN and ESPGHAN that emphasize access to behavioral interventions as a central component of IBS management.

Making evidence-based care affordable

Ultimately, programs like PAP demonstrate that evidence-based care and affordability can coexist – improving treatment continuity and helping patients experience the long-term benefits of brain-gut therapy without financial strain.

Talk to us

If you have any questions, schedule a call with our Clinical Specialists who can share all of Nerva's cost-saving options and walk you through the program in more detail.

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