Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves delivering oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure to heal injuries to the body. According to Dr. Paul G. Harch, a pioneer and leading authority on hyperbaric oxygen therapy and research, “Oxygen under pressure works as a drug to treat basic disease processes that are common to many acute and chronic conditions. By treating the disease processes the diseases are treated also.”

The cost of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is determined largely by where a patient receives Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), what type of medical coverage (reimbursement) is present, and what condition is treated. In the hospital-based centers, only the typically reimbursed indications are treated and the charge is $1,000-2,000/hour.

In a freestanding center, treatment of the same conditions costs far less and can be as low as $200/hour. If the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is reimbursed by either Medicare or Medicaid the charge is nearly the same in a hospital or freestanding center, approximately $250/hour.

For off-label conditions, the freestanding centers are usually the only option for treatment. The average charge at these facilities is about $200/hr or treatment.

Source: altmd.com

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) can be obtained in a hospital or a freestanding clinic.

Hospitals

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has been traditionally delivered in hospital-based departments or wound care departments on hospital campuses. Many of these facilities treat both the emergency as well as the chronic conditions.

Freestanding Clinics

In the past 15 years however, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) treatment has become more efficient and convenient through the establishment of freestanding clinics. These clinics usually are not equipped to treat the emergency conditions and so have focused only on the chronic conditions. Increasingly, these freestanding clinics also treat “off-label” conditions such as chronic neurological conditions. Examples include cerebral palsy, autism, chronic traumatic brain injury, and chronic stroke. It is estimated that there are now 800 Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) centers in the United States.

Medical Supervision

Regardless of whether the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) center is hospital-based or freestanding, the most important attribute of any facility is whether there is a doctor in attendance. Because Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is both a medical procedure and drug, there are risks and side effects that should be evaluated by a physician before proceeding with treatment. Similarly, a physician should be present during treatment for continuous observation and assessment.

Source: altmd.com