Medicare Approves Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Osteomyelitis
The FDA, AMA and Medicare support the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to help heal chronic refractory osteomyelitis, and numerous private insurance companies also cover the condition. Our physician partners refer patients to HBOT as an adjunct to antibiotics and surgery.
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The FDA, AMA and Medicare support the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to help heal chronic refractory osteomyelitis, and numerous private insurance companies also cover the condition. Our physician partners refer patients to HBOT as an adjunct to antibiotics and surgery.
Are you a Patient? View Patient version of this page
How Hyperbarics Helps
Stimulates angiogenesis
Salvages and revitalizers damaged tissue
Stimulates stem cell reproduction and mobilization
Stimulates up-regulation of growth hormones
Enhances delivery of antibiotics
Down-regulates inflammatory genes
What the Research Says
Numerous studies have documented the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for healing chronic refractory osteomyelitis. Both Medicare and many private insurance companies pay for the cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to heal chronic refractory osteomyelitis.
As you know, Osteomyelitis can cause severe pain and other symptoms. It is a challenging condition to treat, especially when it is chronic. However, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has emerged as a promising treatment option, especially when antibiotics alone do not resolve the osteomyelitis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works by increasing the amount of oxygen that dissolves in the blood and reaches the affected bone tissue. This increased oxygen supply helps the body fight the infection and promote healing.
Here are some of the ways in which HBOT can help treat osteomyelitis:
- Increased oxygen supply: Osteomyelitis often leads to reduced blood flow to the affected bone, which in turn reduces the supply of oxygen and nutrients needed for healing. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen in the blood by up to 1,200%, and promotes the growth of new blood vessels, which can help deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the affected area.
- Enhanced immune response: Hyperbarics stimulates the immune system, which can help fight the infection and reduce inflammation. The increased oxygen supply can also help white blood cells function more effectively, which can further boost the immune response.
- Improved wound healing: Osteomyelitis often results in open wounds that are difficult to heal. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps to promote the growth of new tissue, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the production of collagen, which is essential for wound healing.
- Antibacterial effects: Hyperbaric oxygen creates an environment that is hostile to bacteria, as some bacteria are anaerobic and cannot survive in the presence of high levels of oxygen. By increasing the oxygen supply to the affected bone, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help kill bacteria and prevent them from multiplying.
- Reduced need for surgery: As you know, in some cases, osteomyelitis requires surgical intervention to remove infected tissue or bone. However, HBOT can help reduce the need for surgery by promoting healing and reducing the severity of the infection.
At Bay Area Hyperbarics, we have worked with referring physicians for over 24 years to help heal patients with chronic refractory osteomyelitis. In doing so, patients report higher satisfaction with their referring physician and care team, and are healed at much higher percentage than without hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We follow all standard protocols and our physicians and nurse practitioners work closely with your care team.
Please give us a call today to discuss your patients or have your care team download our patient referral form. We can get patients in quickly and get them on the road to recovery.
Research Studies
UNDERSEA AND HYPERBARIC MEDICAL SOCIETY
Delayed Radiation Injury (Soft Tissue and Bony Necrosis)
The nature of delayed radiation injury, the mechanisms whereby hyperbaric oxygen is effective, clinical results, the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on cancer growth and future areas for research will be discussed.
UNDERSEA AND HYPERBARIC MEDICAL SOCIETY
Delayed Radiation Injury (Soft Tissue and Bony Necrosis)
Hyperbaric oxygen is among the most studied and frequently reported applications in the treatment of delayed radiation injuries. This application of hyperbaric oxygen to the treatment and prevention of delayed radiation injury will be the topic of this chapter. The management of delayed radiation injury, especially when bone necrosis is present, requires mult-disciplinary management. The nature of delayed radiation injury, the mechanisms whereby hyperbaric oxygen is effective, clinical results, the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on cancer growth and future areas for research will be discussed.
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
Clinical Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Complex Wounds
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a role in modern medical practice. In most cases, it is safe and severe side effects are rare. There are many indications for HBO treatment.
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
Clinical Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Complex Wounds
The results suggest that HBO has been shown to be an effective method for treating complex wounds. It significantly improved wound healing. However, HBO does not replace quality wound care. HBO should be used in addition to, but not as a replacement of aggressive wound treatment.
ENOCH HUANG | DOVE PRESS
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the management of chronic wounds: patient selection and perspectives.
The use of HBO2 for chronic, problem wounds is best defined for DFUs, but there is a sound fundamental basis for its use for some other chronic wound types.
ENOCH HUANG | DOVE PRESS
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the management of chronic wounds: patient selection and perspectives.
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society includes “select problem wounds” as an accepted indication for the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2), however, the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) has dominated any discussions of problem wounds because of the prevalence of DFUs in today’s patient population and the reimbursement available for their treatment. Other wound types (eg, calciphylaxis ulcers, sickle cell ulcers, and pyoderma gangrenosum) that have well-deserved reputations as problem wounds have been infrequently treated with HBO2. While there are sound fundamental reasons why additional oxygen may have benefits in the treatment of these wounds, the challenge is finding enough high quality evidence to support routine use of HBO2.
Patient Experiences
Listen to what real patients have to say about their experiences.
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Lisa, 44
After seven years of suffering, hyperbaric oxygen therapy healed her osteomyelitis.
Lisa St John, the clinic director for Bay Area Hyperbarics, had chronic refractory osteomyelitis that lasted seven years with no relief. The infection induced severe fatigue and cognitive impairment that prevented her from working, and required her to sleep up to 18 hours per day. Finally, a physician recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy with antibiotics, which after 60 treatments, healed her. Shortly after being healed, she sold her home to begin her first hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic, which she has owned for almost 25 years!
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Jennifer, 68
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy eliminated the need for surgery to heal her bone infection.
Jennifer had osteomyelitis of the lower jaw (mandible), which proved difficult to heal. Her teeth were becoming loose, and her doctor thought she would need surgery. However, he prescribed hyperbaric oxygen therapy before the surgery, and after 60 treatments, her chronic refractory osteomyelitis healed completely, regrowing bone in her mandible. Jennifer was able to keep her teeth, and was able to return to her active lifestyle, hiking regularly with her husband.
Physicians: Refer a Patient
Refer a patient in three easy steps.
1
You submit patient’s information
As a provider, your office fills out and faxes back the Patient Referral Form. Have questions? Call us!
2
We get authorizations
We make sure the patient understands treatment and then follow the prescribed protocol to get the patient on the road to recovery!
3
Patient starts HBOT
Our medical staff meets with the patient to ensure that HBOT is appropriatre, and contacts Medicare or private insurance to receive authorization.
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Research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
To learn more about HBOT, take a look at our FAQs.
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What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats medical conditions with 100% oxygen in a pressurized hyperbaric chamber. The patient lies or sits in the chamber. The oxygen then saturates the plasma in the blood, allowing oxygen to easily flow throughout the body and reach even areas that are injured or diseased, which typically receive less oxygen. The mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy include stimulating and mobilizing stem cells, down-regulating inflammatory genes, up-regulating reproductive cells and stimulating DNA. HBOT also regrows tiny blood vessels, and stimulates the growth of new healthy cells in the brain, bones, skin, organs, and tissues. People seek hyperbaric oxygen therapy to heal physical damage in their bodies and to promoting health and anti-aging.
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Does HBOT kill cancer cells?
Current research indicates that hyperbaric oxygen does not kill cancer cells. However, there has been a small amount of research indicating that hyperbaric oxygen might reduce the size of certain tumors. Also, there has been a study on mice using hyperbaric oxygen, along with a ketogenic diet, to reduce tumors. Hyperbaric oxygen causes many different healing modalities to kick into gear. Could its effect on strengthening the immune system inhibit the growth of cancer cells? Nobody knows. There are numerous studies conclusively showing that hyperbaric oxygen does not encourage cancer cells or tumors to grow. Some patients claim the hyperbaric oxygen makes them feel a lot more comfortable and functional after chemotherapy and also during healing. Note that some chemotherapy drugs are not to be used with hyperbaric oxygen, as the chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced and thus become toxic. A good hyperbaric oxygen facility (such as Bay Area Hyperbarics) will always call the chemotherapy manufacturer to ensure that hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be helpful and not damaging to the patient.
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IWhat is the CPT code for HBOT?
The CPT code for HBOT is G0277.
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Does Medicare cover HBOT?
Medicare covers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for approved conditions, and many insurance companies also cover approved conditions. If your condition is not approved by your insurance, we can discuss our special rates. Give us a call at (408) 356–7438. We are happy to discuss your options with you.
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Can HBOT help Neuropathy?
Hyperbaric treatments help heal neuropathy by regrowing small blood vessels and nerves that have died from disease, injuries from radiation and aging. Patients often experience numbness and or pain when they start treatment. Hyperbaric treatments most often bring back sensation and make, for example, walking easier and more enjoyable.
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Why would a physician consider HBOT?
A physician would consider using hyperbaric chamber therapy under a variety of situations. Physicians most typically refer patients to hyperbarics when the patient is not healing with traditional medical interventions and hyperbaric chamber therapy is approved by Medicare for this condition. Some patients experience significant unresolved pain and unremitting disease states that the mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber are known to affect, such as the down regulation of inflamatory genes. For an example, some patients have experienced severe, unremitting hives with itching, which did not improve with any specialists interventions. Some physicians will consider hyperbaric chamber therapy if the patient has no other good avenues for improving their failing health, and they know the hyperbaric chamber therapy is safe and will not harm the patient.
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What is Hypebaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HB0T) is a medical treatment where you inhale 100% oxygen in a chamber with increased atmospheric pressure. HBOT injects 400x the oxygen into your tissues and bones and mobilizes stem cells. It regrows healthy tissues in the brain, blood vessels, skin and bones. It also reduces pain and swelling, and speeds recovery. It is simple, effective and painless.