Treatment Indications

The list of indications and associated explanations are taken directly from the website of The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (www.cms.gov). Most commercial insurances will follow the CMS guidelines.

National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

CIM 35-10
For purposes of coverage under Medicare, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a modality in which the entire body is exposed to oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure.

Indications and Limitations of Coverage

Covered Conditions

Program reimbursement for HBO therapy will be limited to that which is administered in a chamber (including the one man unit) and is limited to the following conditions:

1) Acute carbon monoxide intoxication,

2) Decompression illness,

3) Gas embolism,

4) Gas gangrene,

5) Acute traumatic peripheral ischemia. HBO therapy is a valuable adjunctive treatment to be used in combination with accepted standard therapeutic measures when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened.

6) Crush injuries and suturing of severed limbs. As in the previous conditions, HBO therapy would be an adjunctive treatment when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened.

7) Progressive necrotizing infections (necrotizing fasciitis),

8) Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency,

9) Preparation and preservation of compromised skin grafts (not for primary management of wounds),

10) Chronic refractory osteomyelitis, unresponsive to conventional medical and surgical management,

11) Osteoradionecrosis as an adjunct to conventional treatment,

12) Soft tissue radionecrosis as an adjunct to conventional treatment,

13) Cyanide poisoning,

14) Actinomycosis, only as an adjunct to conventional therapy when the disease process is refractory to antibiotics and surgical treatment,

15) Diabetic wounds of the lower extremities in patients who meet the following three criteria: Patient has type I or type II diabetes and has a lower extremity wound that is due to diabetes; Patient has a wound classified as Wagner grade III or higher; and Patient has failed an adequate course of standard wound therapy.

The use of HBO therapy is covered as adjunctive therapy only after there are no measurable signs of healing for at least 30 –days of treatment with standard wound therapy and must be used in addition to standard wound care. Standard wound care in patients with diabetic wounds includes: assessment of a patient’s vascular status and correction of any vascular problems in the affected limb if possible, optimization of nutritional status, optimization of glucose control, debridement by any means to remove devitalized tissue, maintenance of a clean, moist bed of granulation tissue with appropriate moist dressings, appropriate off-loading, and necessary treatment to resolve any infection that might be present. Failure to respond to standard wound care occurs when there are no measurable signs of healing for at least 30 consecutive days. Wounds must be evaluated at least every 30 days during administration of HBO therapy. Continued treatment with HBO therapy is not covered if measurable signs of healing have not been demonstrated within any 30-day period of treatment.

TESTIMONIALS

From my very first session, I was greeted by a group of wonderful professionals that explained the procedure to me and watched over me while I was in the chamber. The crew always answered my questions patiently and thoroughly. Not only did they see to the clinical aspect of my treatment, but they always checked on my comfort level several times during the treatment. If I requested anything, they always complied quickly and with a smile.

The staff go above and beyond the call of duty. They have patience, are funny, and are very personable. It makes it a pleasure to go for my treatments. I have claustrophobia and being inside this tube for 2 hours a day is a very difficult task, but these gentlemen ease my anxiety every morning. Upon entering the waiting room they greet me and walk me down to the hyperbaric chamber in a way that makes me feel important. When I am anxious when in the chamber they talk to me and assure me that everything is ok and they are present for me in a way that bolsters my confidence. I cannot say enough about them, they are just wonderful.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

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