ATMA CENA does not operate a clinic in Atlantic Canada. For New Brunswick workers and first responders with an accepted WorkSafeNB claim for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or chronic pain, ketamine-assisted therapy is the most realistic psychedelic-adjacent treatment to pursue through the provincial workers' compensation system in 2026. WorkSafeNB has no formal listing for ketamine or esketamine; all such requests are reviewed case-by-case based on clinical justification and documented conventional treatment failures. New Brunswick workers can still work with ATMA CENA through the coordinated care model, in which an NB-area therapist remains primary while ATMA CENA's clinical infrastructure provides medical oversight and dosing-protocol coordination.

Key takeaways

WorkSafeNB reviews ketamine and esketamine claims case-by-case; there is no formal drug formulary listing for psychedelic-assisted therapy in New Brunswick.

New Brunswick's Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, 2018 established a presumption that PTSD diagnosed in designated first responders is work-related, accelerating claim acceptance but not auto-approving any specific treatment.

Designated first responders under NB's presumptive legislation include full-time and volunteer firefighters, police officers, paramedics, correctional officers, sheriffs, and emergency dispatchers.

CPSNB (College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick) is the provincial regulator for off-label ketamine prescribing; physicians must follow general controlled-substance and off-label prescribing standards.

ATMA CENA does not operate a clinic in New Brunswick. NB workers can work with ATMA CENA through the coordinated care model, with an NB-area therapist remaining primary.

Atlantic Canada ketamine clinical capacity is limited compared with Ontario, BC, or Alberta; the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax operates an IV ketamine program for treatment-resistant depression that is sometimes referral-accessible from NB.

New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province; healthcare communications are often available in both English and French, and patients may request French-language psychedelic-assisted therapy services.

What does WorkSafeNB cover for PTSD and chronic pain?

WorkSafeNB administers the Workers' Compensation Act of New Brunswick and adjudicates claims for compensable workplace injuries and occupational diseases, including mental disorders such as PTSD and chronic pain conditions. The board does not maintain a published drug formulary equivalent to WSIB Ontario's multi-formulary listing, and it has no documented prior-authorization procedure for ketamine or esketamine comparable to WCB Alberta's Procedure 4-12. Coverage for emerging treatments is adjudicated case-by-case.

For accepted PTSD claims, WorkSafeNB typically funds first-line, evidence-based interventions: trauma-focused psychotherapy (cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure, EMDR), pharmacotherapy (SSRIs, venlafaxine), and structured rehabilitation programs delivered by contracted psychologists, social workers, and counsellors. Ketamine, esketamine (Spravato), psilocybin, and MDMA are not included in this default treatment scope. A worker who wishes to pursue ketamine-assisted therapy through their WorkSafeNB claim must do so through a separate, individualized clinical justification request submitted by their treating physician.

For accepted chronic pain claims, WorkSafeNB funds standard analgesic, rehabilitative, and interdisciplinary pain management approaches. Off-label IV or sublingual ketamine for compensable chronic non-cancer pain is reviewed case-by-case and is not part of the default coverage scope.

Coverage in every case depends on: an accepted compensable claim, a treating physician's written clinical justification, documentation of prior conventional treatment failures, and WorkSafeNB case manager and medical advisor review. Workers retain the right to request reconsideration and to appeal adverse decisions through WorkSafeNB's internal review process and ultimately to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal (WCAT) of New Brunswick.

For a cross-Canada comparison of workers' compensation coverage, see the parent guide on workers' compensation and psychedelic-assisted therapy in Canada and the broader insurance coverage for psychedelic-assisted therapy in Canada hub.

New Brunswick's presumptive PTSD legislation (2018)

In 2018, New Brunswick passed An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act establishing a presumption that PTSD diagnosed in designated first responders is work-related, unless the contrary is proven. This shifted the burden of proof off the worker for the underlying causation question and accelerated WorkSafeNB claim acceptance for these populations. New Brunswick was a relatively early adopter of presumptive PTSD legislation among the Atlantic provinces.

Designated occupations under NB's presumptive PTSD framework include:

Firefighters (full-time and volunteer)
Police officers
Paramedics
Correctional officers
Sheriffs
Emergency dispatchers

Important framing: The presumption applies to the underlying PTSD diagnosis and the WorkSafeNB claim acceptance question. It does not automatically approve any specific treatment, including ketamine-assisted therapy, psilocybin, or MDMA-assisted therapy. The presumption removes the burden on the worker to prove that their PTSD is work-related, which can meaningfully speed up claim acceptance and access to the treatment-funding pathway. Specific treatment coverage requires a separate clinical justification process.

Workers outside the designated first-responder occupations who have compensable PTSD or chronic pain may also pursue WorkSafeNB coverage for ketamine-assisted therapy through the same individualized clinical justification process; their claims simply require more documentation of work-relatedness for the underlying diagnosis.

For a national comparison of presumptive PTSD legislation across all provinces and territories, see first-responder PTSD presumptive legislation in Canada.

CPSNB regulatory framework for ketamine in New Brunswick

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick (CPSNB) is the provincial regulator for medical practice in New Brunswick. CPSNB does not currently publish a ketamine-specific guidance document equivalent to CPSA's March 2026 ketamine guidance in Alberta or CPSBC's August 2025 interim guidance in British Columbia. Off-label ketamine prescribing in New Brunswick falls under CPSNB's general standards for prescribing, controlled-substance management, and off-label use.

Ketamine is approved by Health Canada as an anaesthetic. Its use for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain is off-label and regulated provincially by CPSNB. NB physicians prescribing ketamine for psychiatric or chronic pain indications must:

Hold an active CPSNB medical licence
Comply with the NB Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) reporting requirements for controlled substances
Document informed consent that discloses off-label status
Document clinical justification including diagnosis, prior treatments attempted, and clinical rationale
Operate within their scope of practice and consult appropriately with relevant specialists (typically psychiatry for mental health indications, anesthesia or pain medicine for chronic pain)

Esketamine (Spravato) is Health Canada-approved for treatment-resistant depression and is administered under the manufacturer's REMS-equivalent monitoring program. Spravato status under New Brunswick Drug Plans (the provincial public drug program) is case-by-case; Exception Drug Status approvals for Spravato in New Brunswick are rarely granted, and most NB patients accessing Spravato do so through private insurance prior authorization.

ATMA CENA in New Brunswick — honest framing

ATMA CENA's Canadian network includes corporate clinics in Edmonton and Calgary plus member clinics in Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Quebec. ATMA CENA does not operate a clinic in New Brunswick or anywhere in Atlantic Canada. New Brunswick workers can still work with ATMA CENA in two ways:

Coordinated care for NB workers: An NB-area therapist (a New Brunswick-licensed psychologist, social worker, registered counselling therapist, or other qualified mental health professional) remains the primary therapeutic relationship while ATMA CENA's clinical infrastructure provides medical oversight, screening, dosing-protocol coordination, and the psychedelic-assisted therapy framework. Find out how coordinated care works.
Information and navigation support: ATMA CENA's clinical team can orient NB workers and case managers to the Atlantic Canada psychedelic-assisted therapy landscape, explain the coordinated care model, and discuss how a WorkSafeNB clinical justification request is typically structured. Treatment delivery and prescribing remain with NB-licensed providers.

This is an honest, accessibility-focused framing. New Brunswick patients who want in-person ATMA CENA corporate clinic care would currently need to travel to Edmonton or Calgary; for most NB workers, the coordinated care model with local providers is the more practical option.

For broader Atlantic Canada regional context, see psychedelic-assisted therapy in Halifax, which covers the regional landscape including the QEII Health Sciences Centre's public IV ketamine program.

How to pursue a WorkSafeNB claim for ketamine therapy

For NB workers with an accepted compensable claim who are exploring ketamine-assisted therapy, the pathway involves several sequential steps. WorkSafeNB does not have a streamlined prior-authorization form comparable to WCB Alberta's Form C1520; each request is adjudicated as an individualized treatment authorization.

Step-by-step pathway:

Establish the compensable claim. PTSD and other mental disorders must be accepted as compensable before WorkSafeNB will consider funding any treatment. For designated first responders, NB's 2018 presumptive PTSD legislation expedites this step. Non-presumption occupations require documented work-related causation.
Complete first-line treatment. WorkSafeNB will expect that trauma-focused psychotherapy and appropriate pharmacotherapy (SSRIs or venlafaxine) have been trialled for PTSD; for chronic pain, appropriate analgesic, rehabilitative, and interdisciplinary approaches must be documented as attempted. Documented treatment failures are a foundation of the clinical justification.
Engage a qualified NB prescribing physician. In New Brunswick, ketamine for psychiatric or chronic pain indications must be prescribed by a CPSNB-licensed physician operating within scope of practice (typically a psychiatrist, anesthesiologist, or pain medicine specialist; family physicians may prescribe in consultation with a specialist). Atlantic Canada ketamine clinical capacity is limited compared with central and western provinces; identifying a willing prescriber is often the rate-limiting step.
Prepare clinical justification documentation. The treating physician provides WorkSafeNB with: the compensable diagnosis, all prior treatments attempted and their outcomes, the clinical rationale for ketamine, the proposed protocol (route, dose, number of sessions, monitoring plan), and how the treatment supports the worker's recovery and return-to-function goals.
Submit to WorkSafeNB case manager for review. WorkSafeNB will refer the request to its medical advisors. The board may consult internal or external specialists before rendering a decision.
If coverage is denied: Workers have the right to request reconsideration through WorkSafeNB's internal review process. If unsatisfied, workers can appeal to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal (WCAT) of New Brunswick, which is independent of WorkSafeNB. The Office of the Workers' Advocate provides free advocacy support to NB workers navigating the appeals process.
Coordinate with ATMA CENA via coordinated care if appropriate. If WorkSafeNB approves the prescribing physician's plan, the medication delivery sits with the NB prescriber and the broader preparation, dosing-day support, and integration psychotherapy can be coordinated through coordinated care with an NB-area therapist remaining primary and ATMA CENA providing the clinical framework.

For a comparison of how more developed provincial frameworks handle these requests, see WCB Alberta and psychedelic-assisted therapy, WSIB Ontario and psychedelic-assisted therapy, and WorkSafeBC and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Atlantic Canada regional accessibility

Atlantic Canada's clinical capacity for ketamine-assisted therapy and broader psychedelic-assisted therapy is meaningfully more limited than in Ontario, British Columbia, or Alberta. New Brunswick patients should plan around this reality.

Regional landscape relevant to NB workers:

QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax. The QEII Mood Disorders Clinic operates a publicly available IV ketamine program for treatment-resistant depression, currently on a compassionate-use basis under Dr. Abraham Nunes (Dalhousie University, Department of Psychiatry) with the DALKETCLIN clinical predictors study running in parallel. The program is capacity-limited (approximately one patient every two weeks) and requires a psychiatry referral with documented exhaustion of other treatment options. NB patients can sometimes access the QEII program through inter-provincial specialty referral; Nova Scotia Health and the patient's NB psychiatrist coordinate the referral.
Halifax private ketamine clinics. NovaKet Infusion Clinic, Coastal Ketamine, ANSR Clinic, BrainStim Halifax, Holos Integrative Health, and NuVista Psychedelic Medicine all operate in Halifax with various IV ketamine, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), and Spravato options. These are private clinics; NB patients accessing them directly typically pay out of pocket or through private insurance, with WorkSafeNB reimbursement requiring case-by-case approval.
New Brunswick prescribing capacity. A small number of NB psychiatrists and pain medicine specialists prescribe ketamine on an off-label basis. Capacity is concentrated in the Saint John, Fredericton, and Moncton catchments; rural NB workers often face significant travel for any ketamine-assisted therapy access.
Bilingual service availability. New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province under the Official Languages Act. Healthcare communications and clinical services are often available in both English and French; Acadian and Francophone NB workers seeking French-language psychedelic-assisted therapy services should ask their treating physician and any prospective ketamine prescriber whether French-language consultations and integration support are available. ATMA CENA's coordinated care network can in principle support French-language coordination through NB-licensed Francophone therapists; verify language fit during the intake call.

For the broader Atlantic Canada regional picture, see the Halifax psychedelic-assisted therapy guide.

Veterans, CFB Gagetown, and VAC overlay

New Brunswick hosts CFB Gagetown, one of the largest Canadian Armed Forces training bases in Canada, and a substantial active-duty and veteran population resides in NB. For workers who are also CAF veterans or RCMP members with service-related PTSD or chronic pain, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) coverage may run in parallel with or instead of a WorkSafeNB claim, depending on whether the injury is service-connected.

VAC has an established ketamine coverage pathway for service-related treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain, adjudicated case-by-case. MDMA-assisted therapy for service-related PTSD is reviewed case-by-case where a Special Access Program approval has been obtained. Psilocybin is not currently VAC-covered. For service-connected conditions, VAC is often the more accessible coverage pathway than WorkSafeNB for psychedelic-assisted therapy.

For details, see VAC coverage for psychedelic-assisted therapy and PTSD and psychedelic therapy.

Psilocybin and MDMA — can a WorkSafeNB claim cover these?

Psilocybin and MDMA are restricted drugs under Canada's Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Patient access to psilocybin- or MDMA-assisted therapy is available only through Health Canada's Special Access Program (SAP). SAP approval is granted on a case-by-case basis and is not guaranteed. Approval rates declined sharply in 2025. Psilocybin SAP is primarily approved for adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder or distress associated with a life-threatening illness. MDMA SAP is primarily approved for adults with PTSD.

Neither psilocybin nor MDMA is listed on any WorkSafeNB formulary or evidence-review framework for coverage. Any WorkSafeNB coverage request for SAP-approved psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapy in New Brunswick would be a novel adjudication. Atlantic Canada SAP-pathway clinical capacity is more limited than in Ontario or British Columbia; NB workers pursuing this route should expect a longer process and should work closely with a treating physician familiar with both the SAP application process and WorkSafeNB adjudication.

Frequently asked questions

Does WorkSafeNB cover ketamine-assisted therapy?

WorkSafeNB reviews ketamine and esketamine coverage requests case-by-case for accepted compensable claims. There is no formal drug formulary listing for ketamine in New Brunswick comparable to WSIB Ontario's framework or WCB Alberta's documented Procedure 4-12. Coverage depends on the specific compensable diagnosis, documentation of prior conventional treatment failures, and clinical justification from the treating physician. Workers have the right to request reconsideration and appeal to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal of New Brunswick if coverage is denied.

Who qualifies under New Brunswick's presumptive PTSD legislation?

Under the 2018 Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act, designated first responders presumed to have work-related PTSD include firefighters (full-time and volunteer), police officers, paramedics, correctional officers, sheriffs, and emergency dispatchers. The presumption fast-tracks the underlying PTSD claim acceptance but does not auto-approve any specific treatment.

Does presumptive PTSD eligibility automatically cover ketamine therapy?

No. NB's presumptive PTSD legislation accelerates the underlying PTSD claim acceptance by removing the burden on the worker to prove work-relatedness. It does not authorize specific treatments. Ketamine-assisted therapy still requires a separate, individualized clinical justification submitted by the treating physician.

Does ATMA CENA have a clinic in New Brunswick?

No. ATMA CENA does not operate a clinic in New Brunswick or anywhere in Atlantic Canada. NB workers can work with ATMA CENA through the coordinated care model, in which an NB-area therapist remains the primary therapeutic relationship while ATMA CENA's clinical infrastructure provides medical oversight and dosing-protocol coordination.

Can I access French-language psychedelic-assisted therapy in New Brunswick?

New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province, and many healthcare providers offer services in both English and French. Acadian and Francophone NB workers should ask any prospective prescribing physician and any coordinated care therapist whether French-language consultations, dosing-day support, and integration sessions are available. ATMA CENA can in principle coordinate French-language coordinated care partnerships through NB-licensed Francophone therapists; confirm language fit during the intake call.

What's CPSNB's stance on ketamine prescribing?

CPSNB does not currently publish a ketamine-specific policy. Off-label ketamine prescribing in New Brunswick falls under CPSNB's general standards for prescribing, controlled-substance management, and off-label use. Physicians must hold an active CPSNB licence, comply with the NB Prescription Monitoring Program, document informed consent disclosing off-label status, and operate within their scope of practice.

Does New Brunswick Drug Plans cover Spravato?

Spravato status under New Brunswick Drug Plans is case-by-case; Exception Drug Status approvals for Spravato in New Brunswick are rarely granted. Most NB patients accessing Spravato do so through private insurance prior authorization (typically Manulife, Sun Life, Green Shield, or Blue Cross Atlantic) or, where applicable, through VAC for service-related TRD.

Can NB workers access the QEII ketamine program in Halifax?

The QEII Health Sciences Centre's public IV ketamine program for treatment-resistant depression in Halifax operates on a compassionate-use basis under Dr. Abraham Nunes. The program is capacity-limited (approximately one patient every two weeks) and requires a psychiatric referral with documented exhaustion of other treatment options. NB patients can sometimes access the program through inter-provincial specialty referral; coordinate with your NB psychiatrist.

Does WorkSafeNB cover psilocybin or MDMA for PTSD?

No. Neither psilocybin nor MDMA is listed on any WorkSafeNB framework for coverage. Legal access requires Health Canada's Special Access Program (SAP), and SAP approval rates declined sharply in 2025. Any WorkSafeNB coverage request for SAP-approved psilocybin or MDMA-assisted therapy in New Brunswick would be a novel adjudication.

What if WorkSafeNB denies my ketamine coverage request?

NB workers can request reconsideration through WorkSafeNB's internal review process. If unsatisfied, workers can appeal to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal of New Brunswick, which is independent of WorkSafeNB. The Office of the Workers' Advocate provides free advocacy support to NB workers navigating the appeals process. A workers' compensation lawyer or advocate may also assist for complex appeals.

Compliance disclaimer

Ketamine is approved by Health Canada as an anaesthetic. Its use for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic pain is off-label and regulated provincially by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick (CPSNB). WorkSafeNB coverage for any treatment including ketamine is assessed case-by-case, is not automatic, and depends on the specific compensable claim, prior treatment history, and clinical justification provided by the prescribing physician. Workers have the right to request reconsideration and to appeal decisions to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal of New Brunswick.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, legal advice, or a guarantee of coverage. Consult your treating physician for individualized medical guidance and a workers' compensation lawyer or advocate for claim-specific legal advice.

Sources

WorkSafeNB. Workers' Compensation Act and claim processes. https://www.worksafenb.ca/
Government of New Brunswick (2018). An Act to Amend the Workers' Compensation Act (presumptive PTSD for designated first responders). https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/legislature/bills.html
College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick (CPSNB). Standards of practice and prescribing. https://www.cpsnb.org/
Workers' Compensation Appeals Tribunal of New Brunswick. Appeals process. https://www.wcat-tat.ca/
New Brunswick Drug Plans. Formulary and Exception Drug Status. https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/health/MedicarePrescriptionDrugPlan.html
Health Canada (2022). Notice to stakeholders: Requests to the Special Access Program (SAP) involving psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/announcements/requests-special-access-program-psychedelic-assisted-psychotherapy.html
Health Canada. Spravato (esketamine) Product Monograph. https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00056351.PDF
Veterans Affairs Canada. Mental health benefits and treatment. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/financial-programs-and-services/medical-costs/coverage-services-prescriptions-and-devices/mental-health-benefits
Feder, A., Costi, S., Rutter, S.B., et al. (2021). A Randomized Controlled Trial of Repeated Ketamine Administration for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 178(2), 193–202. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33397139/
Mitchell, J.M., et al. (2021). MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Nature Medicine, 27(6), 1025–1033. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33972795/
Mitchell, J.M., et al. (2023). MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Nature Medicine, 29(10), 2473–2480. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37709999/
Mithoefer, M.C., et al. (2018). 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers. Lancet Psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29728331/
PsyCan (2025). PsyCan Discovers Sharp Decline in Health Canada Approvals for Doctors Seeking Legal Psychedelic Therapy for Patients. https://psychedelicscanada.org/media/2025/09/psycan-discovers-sharp-decline-in-health-canada-approvals-for-doctors-seeking-legal-psychedelic-therapy-for-patients
ATMA CENA. Find care near you — coordinated care network. https://psychedelic.healthcare/find-care

Workers' Compensation and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Canada — cross-provincial overview
Insurance Coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Canada — private and group insurance coverage overview
WCB Alberta and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy — comparison: documented prior-authorization procedure
WSIB Ontario and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy — comparison: largest worker population in Canada
WorkSafeBC and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy — comparison: case-by-case framework
First-Responder PTSD Presumptive Legislation in Canada — national presumptive PTSD comparison
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Halifax — Atlantic Canada regional context
PTSD and Psychedelic Therapy — PTSD condition and treatment overview
VAC Coverage for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy — for NB veterans (CFB Gagetown overlay)
Find care near you — how NB workers can engage ATMA CENA without a local clinic

Last updated: 2026-05-06. This article is reviewed every 3 months given time-sensitive regulatory and coverage information.

WorkSafeNB and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: What New Brunswick Workers Need to Know (2026)

Coverage rules differ by payer