Insurance

Insurance-approved indications

Air/Gas Embolism is when an air or gas bubble is introduced inadvertently into the arterial circulation during surgical procedures, diving accidents, and/or diagnostic monitoring procedures, to name a few.  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces the volume of the gas bubbles and increases the absorption rate of said gas.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the leading causes of injury and death by poisoning worldwide. Because CO is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating gas, its presence is difficult to detect.  To insure good clinical outcome and reduce neurological sequelae, early diagnosis and treatment with hyperbaric oxygen is essential.

This occurs when fluid develops in injured skeletal muscle causing blood flow interruption. Due to the primary problems brought about by this condition, ischemia and edema, hyperbaric oxygen is used to reduce damage because it hyperoxygenates tissue and reduces edema.

Decompression Sickness (DCS) or Decompression Illness (DCI) occurs when bubbles of inert gas become trapped in tissue and/or blood, sufficient to interfere with organ function. This problem can be caused by rapid decompression during ascent from diving, flying or a hyperbaric/hypobaric chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the only treatment for this disorder.

Regardless of etiology, the basic mechanism of non-healing wounds is an interplay between varying degrees of tissue hypoperfusion and infection.  Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an adjunct to current medical surgical treatment.

When this occurs and a person loses a sufficient amount of blood, oxygen delivery to tissues is compromised and ischemia will develop unless oxygen is restored properly. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to supply sufficient oxygen to a patient who cannot be transfused because of medical or religious reasons.

Gas gangrene (Clostridial Myositis and Myonecrosis) is a severe acute and rapidly progressive infection, usually occurring in patients with compound and/or complicated fractures with extensive soft tissue injuries. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, in conjunction with surgery and antibiotics, is the preferred treatment.

Intracranial Abscess (ICA) infectious disorders have a high morbidity and mortality rate.Use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy may inhibit infection, reduce brain swelling and enhance the body’s defense mechanisms.

Necrotizing soft tissue infections are normally caused by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and should initially be treated surgically as well as with appropriate antibiotics. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, when used as an adjunct can prove to be cost effective as well as lifesaving. When treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, oxygen tissue levels should rise sufficiently to inhibit bacterial growth and enhance white blood cells; neutrophils to kill bacteria.

Radiation injuries can occur months and even years after radiation exposure. Radiation treatment is designed to destroy a malignancy and subsequently, normal tissue cells are also damaged. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to enhance neovascularization in irradiated and hypoxic tissue.

The translation of this word is “inflammation of the bone”. Refractory means chronic. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is again an adjunct therapy used in association with surgical and infectious disease therapies.

Tissue that is compromised by irradiation or in other cases where there has been decreased perfusion or hypoxia, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help maximize the viability of the compromised tissue.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is presently utilized to treat serious burns (greater than 20% total body surface), partial or full thickness injury, or with involvement of the hands, face, feet or perineum. Working in close conjunction with comprehensive burn care program, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve survival, reduce the length of hospital stay, and lessen the need for surgery.

  • Actinomycosis
  • Gas gangrene
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Other peripheral vascular disease
  • Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb
  • Necrotizing fasciitis
  • Chronic osteomyelitis
  • Crushing injury of head
  • Crushing injury of neck
  • Crushing injury chest
  • Crushing injury of abdomen, lower back and pelvis
  • Crushing injury of shoulder and upper arm
  • Crush injury of elbow and forearm
  • Crush injury of wrist, hand and fingers
  • Crush injury of hip and thigh
  • Crush injury of lower leg
  • Crush injury of ankle and foot
  • Air embolism traumatic initial encounter
  • Toxic effect of carbon monoxide
  • Toxic effect cyanides
  • Decompression sickness Caisson disease initial encounter
  • Complications of skin graft

Physician attendance and supervision of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, per session

CPT codes not covered for indications listed in the CPB:

  • Vaporous hyperoxia therapy (VHT) -hyphenno specific code

 

Other CPT codes related to the CPB:

  • Mastectomy

 

HCPCS codes covered if selection criteria are met:

  • Hyperbaric oxygen under pressure, full body chamber, per 30 minute interval

 

HCPCS codes not covered for indications listed in the CPB:

  • Topical hyperbaric oxygen chamber, disposable
  • Topical oxygen delivery system, not otherwise specified, includes all supplies and accessories

 

Other HCPCS codes related to the CPB:

  • Injection, doxorubicin HCl, 10 mg
  • Injection, cisplatin, powder or solution, 10 mg
  • Injection, doxorubicin hydrochloride, liposomal, not otherwise specified, 10 mg

 

ICD-hyphen10 codes covered if selection criteria are met:

  • Septicemia due to anaerobes [progressive necrotizing soft tissue anaerobic infections]
  • Gas gangrene [Clostridial myositis and myonecrosis]
  • Iron deficiency anemia secondary to blood loss (chronic) [overwhelming and transfusion is impossible because there is no suitable blood available or religion does not permit]
  • Acute posthemorrhagic anemia [overwhelming and transfusion is impossible because there is no suitable blood available or religion does not permit]
  • Diabetes mellitus with circulatory complications [non-healing infected deep ulcerations (reaching tendons or bone) of the lower extremity unresponsive to at least 1 month of meticulous wound care, including aggressive debridement, maximal antibiotic therapy, tight glycemic control, and appropriate treatment of arterial insufficiency, including revascularization if necessary]
  • Diabetes mellitus with other specified complications [non-healing infected deep ulcerations (reaching tendons or bone) Wagner grade 3 of the lower extremity]
  • Central retinal artery occlusion
  • Sensorineural hearing loss, bilateral [not covered for noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss]
  • Sudden idiopathic hearing loss [idiopathic when HBOT is initiated within 3 months after onset]
  • Atherosclerosis of native arteries and bypass graft(s) of the extremities [non-healing infected deep ulcerations (reaching tendons or bone) of the lower extremity unresponsive to at least 1 month of meticulous wound care, including aggressive debridement, maximal antibiotic therapy, tight glycemic control, and appropriate treatment of arterial insufficiency, including revascularization if necessary]
  • Other aneurysm of extremities
  • Other peripheral vascular disease [acute peripheral arterial insufficiency]
  • Arterial embolism of the extremities [acute peripheral arterial insufficiency]
  • Arterial embolism and thrombosis of the iliac artery [acute peripheral arterial insufficiency]
  • Other disorders of arteries, arterioles and capillaries in diseases classified elsewhere [acute peripheral arterial insufficiency]
  • Varicose veins of lower extremities with ulcer [non-healing infected deep ulcerations (reaching tendons or bone) of the lower extremity unresponsive to at least 1 month of meticulous wound care, including aggressive debridement, maximal antibiotic therapy, tight glycemic control, and appropriate treatment of arterial insufficiency, including revascularization if necessary]
  • Varicose veins of lower extremities with both ulcer and inflammation [non-healing infected deep ulcerations (reaching tendons or bone) of the lower extremity unresponsive to at least 1 month of meticulous wound care, including aggressive debridement, maximal antibiotic therapy, tight glycemic control, and appropriate treatment of arterial insufficiency, including revascularization if necessary]
  • Gangrene not elsewhere classified [Meleney’s ulcer]
  • Radiation proctitis
  • Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb [diabetic ulcers] [non-healing infected deep ulcerations (reaching tendons or bone) Wagner grade 3 of the lower extremity]
  • Other specified diseases of jaw [prophylactic pre- and post-treatment for members undergoing dental surgery of a radiated jaw]
  • Necrotizing fasciitis
  • Chronic osteomyelitis [not covered pre-operative for jaw]
  • Irradiation cystitis with hematuria
  • Obstetric air embolism in pregnancy
  • Crushing injuries [when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury to the iliac artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury to axillary artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury of brachial artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Traumatic amputation thumb, finger(s), arm and hand [when loss of function or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury to other specified blood vessels of the upper extremity [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury of ulnar artery at wrist and hand level [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury of radial artery at wrist and hand level [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury to palmar artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury of femoral artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury to other specified blood vessels of the lower extremity [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Traumatic amputation toe(s), foot, leg(s) [when loss of function or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury to popliteal artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury to anterior tibial artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury to posterior tibial artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Injury of peroneal artery [acute peripheral ischemia when loss of function, limb, or life is threatened and HBOT is used in combination with standard therapy]
  • Toxic effect of hydrogen cyanide [with co-existing carbon monoxide poisoning]
  • Toxic effect of carbon monoxide [acute]
  • Toxic effect of cyanides [with co-existing carbon monoxide poisoning]
  • Radiation sickness, unspecified [radiation necrosis]
  • Caisson disease [decompression illness]
  • Air embolism (traumatic) [acute]
  • Traumatic compartment syndrome
  • Infection following a procedure [reaching tendons or bone of the lower extremity unresponsive to at least 1 month of meticulous wound care, including aggressive debridement, maximal antibiotic therapy, tight glycemic control, and appropriate treatment of arterial insufficiency, including revascularization if necessary]
  • Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified (reaching tendons or bone) of the lower extremity unresponsive to at least 1 month of meticulous wound care, including aggressive debridement, maximal antibiotic therapy, tight glycemic control, and appropriate treatment of arterial insufficiency, including revascularization if necessary]
  • Other mechanical complication of artificial skin graft and decellularized allodermis [compromised skin grafts and flaps]
  • Infection and inflammatory reaction due to other internal prosthetic devices, implants and grafts [compromised skin grafts and flaps]
  • Other specified complications of internal prosthetic devices, implants and grafts, not elsewhere classified [compromised skin grafts and flaps]
  • Complications of skin graft (allograft) (autograft) [compromised skin grafts and flaps]

 

ICD-hyphen10 codes not covered for indications listed in the CPB (not all-hypheninclusive):

  • Salmonella meningitis
  • Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile [intra-abdominal abscess, pseudomembranous colitis (antibiotic-induced colitis)]
  • Tuberculous meningitis
  • Aseptic meningitis in leptospirosis
  • Lepromatous leprosy
  • Other tetanus
  • Meningococcal meningitis
  • Sepsis [except sepsis due to anaerobes]
  • Actinomycotic infections
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, unspecified site
  • Late congenital syphilitic meningitis
  • Secondary syphilitic meningitis
  • Late syphilitic meningitis
  • Gonococcal meningitis
  • Lyme disease
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease
  • Mycoses
  • Malignant neoplasm [cancer]
  • Malignant neoplasm of the brain [glioblastoma]
  • In situ neoplasms [cancer]
  • Hb-SS disease with crisis [sickle cell crisis]
  • Antiphospholipid syndrome
  • Lupus anticoagulant syndrome
  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus with ophthalmic complications
  • Disorders of zinc metabolism
  • Other disorders of calcium metabolism [calciphylaxis (calcific uremic arteriolopathy)]
  • Dementias [cognitive impairment]
  • Other persistent mental disorders due to conditions classified elsewhere [dementia NOS] [cognitive impairment]
  • Personality change due to a known physiological condition [cognitive impairment]
  • Postconcussional syndrome
  • Other personality and behavioral disorders due to a known physiological condition [cognitive impairment]
  • Depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Pervasive and specific developmental disorders
  • Autistic disorder
  • Bacterial meningitis due to other organisms and of unspecified cause
  • Intracranial abscess and granuloma
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Other drug-induced secondary parkinsonism
  • Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative diseases of the nervous system [cognitive impairment]
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Acute transverse myelitis in demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system [radiation-induced]
  • Epilepsy and recurrent seizures
  • Migraine
  • Cluster headaches
  • Transient cerebral ischemic attacks and related syndromes [acute or chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency]
  • Other specified cerebrovascular diseases [acute or chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency/accident including thrombotic or embolic stroke]
  • Bell’s palsy
  • Other disorders of the facial nerve [facial neuritis]
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Chronic pain, not elsewhere classified
  • Chronic pain syndrome
  • Complex regional pain syndrome I (CRPSI)
  • Anoxic brain damage, not elsewhere classified
  • Cerebral edema [acute]
  • Diseases of the eye and adnexa [except central retinal artery occlusion]
  • Otitis externa
  • Noise effects on the inner ear [noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss]
  • Sensorineural hearing loss, unilateral with unrestricted hearing on the contralateral side [noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss]
  • Unspecified sensorineural hearing loss [noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss]
  • Tinnitus
  • Ischemic heart diseases
  • Heart disease
  • Nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage
  • Cerebral infarction and occlusion and thrombosis of precerebral and cerebral arteries, not resulting in cerebral infarction [acute or chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency/accident including thrombotic or embolic stroke]
  • Other cerebrovascular diseases [acute or chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency/accident including thrombotic or embolic stroke]
  • Cognitive deficits following unspecified cerebrovascular disease
  • Raynaud’s syndrome
  • Arterial embolism and thrombosis of other arteries [hepatic]
  • Arteriovenous fistula, acquired [spinal dural]
  • Arteritis, unspecified [Lupus vasculitis]
  • Lymphedema
  • Emphysema
  • Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [bronchitis with emphysema]
  • Asthma
  • Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes, and vapors [Acute thermal and chemical pulmonary damage, i.e., smoke inhalation (e.g., carbon tetrachloride, hydrogen sulfide) with pulmonary insufficiency]
  • Respiratory conditions due to other external agents [Acute thermal and chemical pulmonary damage, i.e., smoke inhalation (e.g., carbon tetrachloride, hydrogen sulfide) with pulmonary insufficiency]
  • Pulmonary fibrosis, unspecified [radiation induced]
  • Other diseases of the bronchus, not elsewhere classified [central airway stenosis following lung transplantation]
  • Disturbances and diseases of salivary glands
  • Crohn’s disease [regional enteritis]
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Gastroenteritis and colitis due to radiation [Radiation-induced gastrointestinal complications]
  • Other intestinal obstruction [small bowel obstruction]
  • Anal fistula
  • Fistula of the intestine [enterocutaneous fistulae]
  • Other specified diseases of the intestine [intestinal anastomosis]
  • Peritoneal abscess [intra-abdominal]
  • Diseases of the liver
  • Acute and subacute hepatic failure
  • Chronic hepatitis, NEC
  • Cholangitis [radiation-induced hemorrhagic]
  • Other local infections and disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue [except Meleney’s ulcer] [infection other than clostridial]
  • Contact dermatitis and other eczema due to solar radiation [actinic skin damage]
  • Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue related to radiation [radiation-induced skin necrosis]
  • Acne vulgaris [cystic]
  • Chloasma [melasma]
  • Hypertrophic scar [epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenomenon in keloid tissue]
  • Arthropathies
  • Endosseous dental implant failure
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [ischemia due to lupus vasculitis]
  • Systemic sclerosis [scleroderma]
  • Pathologic fracture [fracture healing]
  • Nontraumatic ischemic infarction of muscle [critical limb ischemia]
  • Myalgia [myofascial pain syndrome]
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Osteoporosis without current pathological fracture
  • Idiopathic aseptic necrosis of bone
  • Juvenile osteochondrosis of the head of the femur [Legg-Calve-Perthes]
  • Interstitial cystitis (chronic)
  • Other cystitis with hematuria [Chemotherapy-induced hemorrhagic cystitis]
  • Vesical fistula, not elsewhere classified
  • Male infertility
  • Male erectile dysfunction
  • Mastodynia [post-radiation therapy]
  • Other female intestinal-genital tract fistulae [rectovaginal fistula]
  • Disruption of cesarean delivery wound
  • Interstitial emphysema and related conditions originating in the perinatal period
  • Congenital glaucoma
  • Hypospadias
  • Hereditary lymphedema [legs]
  • Pallor [Livedo reticularis]
  • Hematuria
  • Neurologic neglect syndrome [cognitive impairment]
  • Age-related cognitive decline
  • Altered mental status [cognitive impairment]
  • Convulsions, not elsewhere classified
  • Cardiogenic shock
  • Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of non-infectious origin
  • Injury of optic nerve and pathways [ophthalmologic diseases (including diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, central retinal artery occlusion, radiation injury to the optic nerve, glaucoma, keratoendotheliosis)]
  • Intracranial injury [cognitive impairment] [not covered for traumatic brain injury]
  • Specified and unspecified head injury [cognitive impairment] [closed head injury]
  • Other and unspecified injury of cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spinal cord
  • Burns and corrosions of head, face, neck, trunk, upper limb, wrist and hand, lower limb, and multiple and unspecified body regions [skin, thermal]
  • Frostbite [face, hand, foot, and other and unspecified sites]
  • Toxic effects of other gases, fumes, or vapors [other than carbon monoxide] [Acute thermal and chemical pulmonary damage, i.e., smoke inhalation (e.g., carbon tetrachloride, hydrogen sulfide) with pulmonary insufficiency]
  • Toxic effect of contact with venomous animals and plants [necrotizing arachnidism]
  • Disruption of wound [dehiscence of operation wound]
  • Mechanical complication of internal orthopedic devices, implants and grafts [bone grafts]
  • Infection and inflammatory reaction due to internal fixation devices and other internal orthopedic prosthetic devices, implants and grafts [bone grafts]
  • COVID-19
  • Encounter for prophylactic removal of the breast
  • Encounter for aftercare following organ transplant [post organ transplant revascularization]
  • Awaiting organ transplant status [organ transplant or storage]
  • Transplanted organ and tissue status, and presence of cardiac and vascular implants and grafts and other functional implants and other devices [organ transplant or storage]
  • Aftercare for healing fracture [Codes not listed due to expanded specificity]
  • Fractures, including malunion and nonunion [Codes not listed due to expanded specificity]
  • Intracranial injury, sequela [Codes not listed due to expanded specificity]

 

ICD-hyphen10 codes contraindicated for this CPB:

  • Viral infections and diseases
  • Diseases of the respiratory system [lung disease including J93.0 – J93.9 untreated pneumothorax]
  • Hereditary spherocytosis [congenital]
  • Disorders of newborn related to short gestation and low birth weight, not elsewhere classified [premature infants (birth prior to 37 weeks)]
  • Fever [high]

L08.1

  • Actinomycosis refractory to medical
  • Air Embolism
  • Saddle Embolus of abdominal aorta
  • Disorder of the Arteries and Arterioles

 

T66.XXA – T66.XXXS

  • Idiopathic Aseptic Necrosis of Unspecified Bone
  • Caisson Disease (Decompression Sickness)
  • Chronic Multifocal Osteomyelitis, unspecified sites
  • Crushing Injury
  • Embolism following ectopic molar pregnancy
  • Gas Gangrene
  • Gangrene
  • Gangrene
  • Toxic effects of hydrocyanic acid and cyanides
  • Injury of blood vessels
  • Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral and cerebral arteries
  • Unspecified complication of internal prosthetic device, implant, and graft
  • Pyoderma
  • Raynaud’s syndrome
  • Other venous embolism and thrombosis
  • Polyarteritis nodosa
  • Radiation necrosis of soft tissue
  • Acute traumatic peripheral ischemia
  • Crush injuries and suturing of severed limbs (acute)
  • Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency
  • Compromised skin grafts (acute)
  • Osteoradionecrosis
  • Soft tissue radionecrosis
  • Gas gangrene (acute)
  • Progressive necrotizing infections
  • Chronic refractory osteomyelitis
  • Chronic non-healing wounds (diabetic and non-diabetic ulcers)

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