The new MISSION Act, passed by Congress last year, could pave the way for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to be covered by the VA.
In general, the act is making better healthcare more easily accessible to veterans. There are a couple of specific clauses, such as the one below, that could potentially be used to defend the use of VA funds to cover HBOT treatments.
‘‘(d) CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH CARE IS REQUIRED TO BE FURNISHED THROUGH NON-DEPARTMENT PROVIDERS.—(1) The Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, furnish hospital care, medical services, and extended care services to a covered veteran through health care providers specified in subsection (c) if— ‘‘(A) the Department does not offer the care or services the veteran requires; ‘‘(B) the Department does not operate a full-service medical facility in the State in which the covered veteran resides; ‘‘(C)(i) the covered veteran was an eligible veteran under section 101(b)(2)(B) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 38 U.S.C. 1701 note) as of the day before the date of the enactment of the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2018; ‘‘(ii) continues to reside in a location that would qualify the veteran for eligibility under such section; and ‘‘(iii) either— ‘‘(I) resides in one of the five States with the lowest population density as determined by data from the 2010 decennial census; or ‘‘(II) resides in a State not described in subclause (I) and— ‘‘(aa) received care or services under this title in the year preceding the enactment of the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2018; and ‘‘(bb) is seeking care or services within 2 years of the date of the enactment of the Caring for Our Veterans Act of 2018; ‘‘(D) the covered veteran has contacted the Department to request care or services and the Department is not able to furnish such care or services in a manner that complies with designated access standards developed by the Secretary under section 1703B of this title; or ‘‘(E) the covered veteran and the covered veteran’s referring clinician agree that furnishing care and services through a non-Department entity or provider would be in the best medical interest of the covered veteran based upon criteria developed by the Secretary
Along with the MISSION Act, the recent clip below indicates that the Secretary and head of VHA, Dr Stone, are aware of the safety and efficacy of HBOT for veteran related issues such as PTSD.