VHA and Cala collaborate on streamlining Cala Therapy access for Veterans

The VA recently updated its SOP for prescribing Cala therapy (SharePoint search) Topic: Non-Invasive Nerve Stimulation for Management of Tremor. To improve Veterans’ access to Cala therapy, Cala and the VA have been working together to streamline the processes for prescribing, purchasing, and evaluating therapy. Here are highlights of the update:

1. Only one (1) consult is required to prescribe Cala therapy. The Cala Prescription form is no longer required if the consult sent to Prosthetics contains:
   1. Prescribing provider’s name and contact information
   2. Cala therapy prescription details—right or left hand, wrist size measurement in CM, and task eliciting tremor (wing beating, or outstretched postural hold)
   3. The initial PO for new patients should include one Cala Stimulator (which includes one charging base station) plus 4 Cala bands. If the initial order only includes one band, then a second consult needs to be submitted within 60-90 days of the initial order for the 3 remaining bands to provide one year of uninterrupted treatment.
2. Band Refill Consult is only required for Yearly Prescription Renewals and should include 4 wrist bands ordered annually.
3. 100% Full Refund.
   If, during the 90-day evaluation period, the Veteran is not satisfied with Cala therapy, the product can be returned. Credit will be applied to the VA credit card within 30 days once Cala receives the Cala Stimulator/Base Station and all bands. Please review the updated Cala VA Ordering Policy for more details. Our goal is to make ordering Cala therapy easy for the provider, prosthetics, and patient. We are here to serve you and your veterans with essential tremor.
4. An in-clinic trial is not required.
   Because this is a prescription-only individualized therapeutic device, demo units are not available. Each Veterans response to Cala therapy is unique and can be evaluated via telemedicine and/or in-person appointments. Veterans are also invited to a patient portal to access therapy use data.
5. My.CalaTrio.com Portal
   Now your Veteran can onboard, see, and share their response to Cala TAPS therapy sessions. Veterans receive a portal invitation via email when therapy is shipped; if they do not receive an email, call 888-699-1009 or email customersuccess@calatrio.com.
   1. Easy to Use: The Portal is simple, streamlined, easy to navigate, and can be accessed 24/7; insights, education, and support are just a click away for your patients
   2. Educational: With the Portal, your patients will have access to a simple onboarding guide and troubleshooting tips to help them set up and use their Cala device
   3. Empowering: Your patients have access to therapy insights, such as median tremor reduction and usage patterns, that will help them get the most out of their Cala Therapy; patients can also download and share a PDF report summarizing their data that allows care teams to assess progress as needed
6. To provide the best service to Veterans, it’s important for their prescribing healthcare providers to attend a Cala TAPS Therapy in-service session to ensure an understanding of the treatment and the appropriate patients for whom to prescribe. Call the Health Care Professional line 1-888-585-7101 to be put in touch with your Territory Manager.

LBL-5199 Rev C Oct 2022
MKG-1565 Rev B Oct 2022