by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Sep 24, 2020 | Fight the Good Fight, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
It passed! Thank you to all of you who engaged on this issue. Let’s hope this is a small step forward for the field of hyperbaric medicine and a big step forward for our veterans. –Caroline HOUSE PASSES HOEVEN-COSPONSORED LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE VA MENTAL...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Sep 21, 2020 | Fight the Good Fight, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Wes Irvin is an advocate for hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a result of his own personal healthcare journey. He’s got a unique perspective on the challenges faced by the industry, thanks to his experience working “inside the beltway.” Wes has served in multiple...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Sep 9, 2020 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Novitas and First Coast have retired their Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). Because the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for HBOT remains in place, theoretically coverage for HBOT should not change as a result. At least...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Aug 24, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
If you missed the live stream Webinar on the use of HBOT for COVID-19, you can watch the recorded session and receive CME credit. See the information from the UHMS. –Caroline Evidence Review for HBO2 Treatment of Covid-19 Webinar now available for CME/CEU Credit...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Aug 13, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) and the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine (ACHM) have endorsed an updated position statement on the use of HBO2 for COVID-19 pneumonia (follow this link for the full statement). It’s long statement but worth...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Aug 11, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The results of a prospective study of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for COVID-19 respiratory distress are available ahead of print in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. Gorenstein and colleagues treated 20 COVID-19 patients with HBOT and used propensity-matched...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jul 23, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
In February of 2019, CMS approved hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a topic for audit by the RACs (Recovery Audit Contractors) (see links below). I have not heard of any hospital getting a RAC audit, perhaps because of the COVID crisis, but it doesn’t appear that...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jul 22, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Yesterday there was a news report on one of the clinical trials using hyperbaric oxygen therapy to reduce the need for intubation in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. There is nothing magic about a hyperbaric chamber for COVID-19 related hypoxia. It is simply a...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jul 16, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
This article was provided by my friend and colleague, Julio R. Garcia RN, WCC, ACHRN, Program Director for the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine at Springhill Medical Center. “Helmet-based ventilation” may become even more vital as battles continue with...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Jul 9, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Healthcare Payment Policy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has been used for many decades to treat a variety of maladies which have as their common denominator low tissue oxygen levels (hypoxia). Thanks to the pioneering work of Steve Thom and others, HBOT has also been proven to mitigate the...
