Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Aetna covers HBOT for specified acute and chronic indications (e.g., acute air/gas embolism up to 10 sessions; acute carbon monoxide poisoning up to 5 sessions or until clinical plateau; acute peripheral arterial insufficiency and traumatic peripheral ischemia with specified twice-daily regimens; central retinal artery occlusion, diabetic foot ulcers [up to 40 daily sessions, generally ≤60 total], chronic refractory osteomyelitis [up to 40 sessions], compromised grafts/flaps, idiopathic SSHL, radiation injuries, and other listed conditions) and excludes superficial lesions and routine maintenance of split-thickness grafts or artificial skin substitutes. Key requirements include per-indication session/frequency limits, photographic wound documentation every 15 treatments or at least every 30 days with measurable healing required to continue, diabetic ulcers must be Wagner grade ≥3 refractory to ≥1 month of meticulous care, and compromised grafts/flaps require TcPO2 <40 mm Hg.