Bendable Therapy, a Bend-based psilocybin center, has partnered with Enthea, a third-party administrator specializing in medication-assisted therapies using ketamine and psychedelics.

This is a first in the industry. Psilocybin therapeutic services cost anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000 a session that include up to 20 hours of meetings between a facilitator and a client, said Amanda Gow, co-founder of Bendable Therapy. That’s even before the actual psilocybin session in the facility. 

Psilocybin use became legal in Oregon in 2020 in therapeutic settings, but is still considered a controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and is a highly restricted drug. 

“We have been working on this for about a year,” Gow said. “It’s tricky for the insurance company because this is a Schedule I drug. It takes effect immediately for employees covered by Enthea insurance.”

Since opening in 2023, Bendable Therapy has facilitated about 200 psilocybin experiences. At one point Bendable offered scholarships to help people offset the cost of the treatment. But that pot of money is hard to replenish, Gow said.

Like Gow, Gary Bracelin, a co-owner of Drop Thesis psilocybin service center in Bend, said having the psychedelic covered by insurance would be a benefit for consumers. Bracelin said in June Drop Thesis obtained a national provider identification number that allowed consumers to use health savings accounts to pay for services.

“We’ve also been actively talking with insurance companies to try to expand access,” said Bracelin. “We see growing momentum in this space and believe psilocybin therapy is an essential part of comprehensive mental health and wellness care. It should be the norm. Our hope is that national insurance providers will soon recognize the value of this work and include it within their wellness offerings.”

In Oregon there are 29 licensed psilocybin service centers and 808 licensed workers, according to the Oregon Health Authority’s psilocybin website. Bendable Therapy was among the first service centers to be licensed in Bend.

Gow said ingesting the psychedelic drug has been beneficial for consumers experiencing eating disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, addiction treatment and end of life anxiety. 

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in more than 200 species of mushrooms that grow naturally around the world. For centuries, Indigenous and tribal communities across the globe have used psilocybin for spiritual, ceremonial and other purposes, according to the health authority website.