Frequently Asked Questions About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
In general, nothing can be taken into the monoplace unit. This uses a 100% oxygen environment, and is therefore strictly monitored. Take nothing into the chamber unless the item is cleared by the technician. In addition, personal care products – skincare, lotion, makeup, deodorant, hair products, etc. – should not be used before treatment. In general we recommend patients come for treatment just as they are fresh out of the shower. You will be provided 100% cotton scrubs to wear while in the chamber.
Exceptions
If you have a wound dressing of any kind, it must be examined before you enter the chamber. Any other exceptions must be cleared by a technician before entering
What Not to Bring
Do not bring the following items into a hyperbaric chamber at any time:
- Lighters
- Matches
- Cigarettes
- Nylons
- Wigs
- Ointments
- Hearing Aids
- Petroleum Jelly
- Watches
- Makeup
- Lipstick
- Lip Balm
- Hairspray
- Hair dressings
- Synthetic fabrics
- Hard contact lenses
- Titanium Eyeglasses
- Electronics
- Metal objects
- Hair gel
- Shoes
- Hearing aids
- Heating patches
- Car keys
- Jewelry
- Coins/Money
- Batteries
- Cell phones
- Headphones
- Medications
- Bobby pins
The general rule is, do not take anything into the chamber unless you have been specifically told that it is safe to do so by the Hyperbaric Centers of Texas staff.
What are the side effects of hyperbaric treatment?
As with any treatment, side effects are possible. With hyperbaric oxygen therapy, however, they are minimal. HBOT has been proven to be extremely safe, and the actual number of side effects are very small.
The most common problem is barotrauma to the ears and sinuses caused by pressure changes, similar to what you would experience in an ascending or descending airplane. We will teach you auto-inflationary techniques that promote adequate clearing of the ears during treatment. Decongestants may be helpful. This problem is temporary and resolves when the prescribed HBO treatment depth is reached. If you have ear pain or are unable to clear your ears, we have special earplugs that can help with this problem. In some cases, inserting myringotomy tubes or placing a small hole in the eardrum may be necessary before the treatment continues.
What is Hyperbaric Center of Texas’s Financial Policy?
Payment in full is expected at the time of service. We accept checks, cash, Care Credit, VISA, Mastercard, and AmEx. We will provide you with a superbill for your files.
Does Medicare cover hyperbaric treatment charges?
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) may cover HBO therapy if you have one of these conditions:
- Acute carbon monoxide intoxication
- Decompression illness
- Gas embolism
- Gas gangrene
- Acute traumatic peripheral ischemia
- Crush injuries and suturing of severed limbs
- Progressive necrotizing infections
- Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency
- Preparation and preservation of compromised skin grafts
- Chronic refractory osteomyelitis, unresponsive to conventional medical and surgical management
- Osteoradionecrosis as an adjunct to conventional treatment
- Soft tissue radionecrosis as an adjunct to conventional treatment
- Cyanide poisoning
- Actinomycosis, only as an adjunct to conventional therapy when the disease process is refractory to antibiotics and surgical treatment
- Diabetic wounds of the lower extremities if all of these apply:
- You have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and have a lower extremity wound that’s due to diabetes.
- You have a wound classified as Wagner grade III or higher.
- You’ve failed an adequate course of standard wound therapy.
You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and the Part B deductible may apply.
You may need to get prior authorization for Medicare hyperbaric oxygen therapy coverage if these apply:
- You get non-emergency HBO therapy.
- You get the therapy from a facility in Illinois, Michigan, or New Jersey.
You or your facility may send a request for prior authorization to Medicare to cover the cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy before you get these services. To do this, you must submit medical records to show that HBO therapy is medically necessary. A Medicare contractor will review the information. Medicare will cover these services if the contractor decides that the services are medically necessary. For more information, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
This information was taken from the Medicare official website. Please visit them here to get the most up-to-date information. (Link to https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hyperbaric-oxygen-hbo-therapy)