Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Medicare covers hyperbaric oxygen therapy only when administered in a chamber and only for a defined list of indications (e.g., acute carbon monoxide intoxication, decompression illness, gas embolism, clostridial gas gangrene, selected ischemic and radiation-related tissue injuries, chronic refractory osteomyelitis, and specified diabetic lower-extremity wounds meeting strict criteria). Coverage for diabetic lower-extremity wounds requires type 1 or 2 diabetes, a Wagner grade III+ wound due to diabetes, failure of at least 30 consecutive days of standard wound therapy, and concurrent documentation of standard wound care; wounds must be re-evaluated every 30 days and treatment discontinued if no measurable healing occurs within any 30-day period. All other indications not expressly listed are noncovered, and topical oxygen application coverage is determined locally by MACs as of 04/03/2017.

"Reimbursement is provided only for hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy administered in a hyperbaric chamber, including single-person (one-man) units."