BOSTON, Massachusetts — Electromedical Products International (EPI) is working with AcuityMD to expand access to Alpha-Stim, a non-invasive, FDA-cleared device that uses cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) and microcurrent electrical therapy (MET) to treat anxiety, insomnia, and pain among U.S. military veterans. The partnership is helping increase use of Alpha-Stim across Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics and community care providers, offering an alternative for veterans seeking treatment options beyond long-term or dependency-risk medications.
Alpha-Stim is available to all patients diagnosed with anxiety, insomnia, or pain, but has gained particular traction among veterans, many of whom report difficulty tolerating or benefiting from prescription drug therapies. The device is designed to be used at home, providing a treatment option that can support ongoing symptom management.
Between 2019 and 2023, more than half a million active-duty service members were diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder, an increase of 40 percent during that period. At the same time, nearly 35 veterans per 100,000 die by suicide, a rate rising faster than that of non-veterans.
Veterans such as Dakota Meyer, a former U.S. Marine Sergeant and Medal of Honor recipient, have noted meaningful improvement. “Even some of my worst days in Afghanistan were easier than my regular days when I returned home,” said Meyer. “For seven years, I tried almost everything, but nothing worked. I also did not like the disruptive effect of drugs on my daily life. Finally, I found Alpha-Stim and it melted the anxiety away.”
Liz Mataraza, a U.S. Army veteran and Customer Care Manager at EPI, said the technology is filling a clear need. “Not all wounds are visible. Many veterans have told me that Alpha-Stim has changed their lives. When clinicians learn about it, they want to prescribe it. Many are cautious about prescribing medications that may have side effects or dependency potential,” she said. “Alpha-Stim offers clinicians a safe, effective alternative and helps patients feel calmer and more in control, but we needed a more data-driven approach to reach VA clinics, hospitals, and providers.”
Through AcuityMD’s AI platform, EPI has gained insight into VA and community care networks, identifying clinics and clinicians most likely to encounter veterans experiencing anxiety, pain, or sleep disruption. EPI representatives use these insights to engage providers who are best positioned to prescribe or recommend the device. The company also uses payer data to identify community practices where VA-covered procedures may occur outside VA facilities.
“We have witnessed incredible upside in potential and growth since implementing AcuityMD,” said Brian Burke, President of EPI. “We now have a bigger market and greater penetration, plus significant improvement in sales productivity. For example, reps may now visit one clinic but actually meet with five relevant clinicians that they might not have known before AcuityMD. It is a sales multiplier.”
Burke added that the platform is now incorporated into strategic planning. “AcuityMD has become an integral part of our strategic decision making. It provides valuable insights into market trends, physician prescribing patterns, and patient needs that help us continuously refine our commercial strategy. Our mission is to bring Alpha-Stim to every patient in need, especially veterans, and AcuityMD plays an important role in advancing that mission.”
