Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Wichita, Kansas

Wichita is Kansas’s largest city and the regional medical hub for south-central Kansas. Two major health systems serve the metro, giving patients reasonable local access to wound care programs without traveling to Kansas City.

Finding HBOT Providers in Wichita

Ascension Via Christi (formerly Via Christi Health) and Wesley Medical Center are the dominant systems in Wichita. Wesley holds Level I trauma center designation, which means it’s equipped for complex medical cases and typically runs a full-service wound care program.

Hospital-based wound care centers are where most HBOT happens in Kansas. These programs operate under physician supervision with clinical-grade monoplace or multiplace chambers. That’s different from wellness-oriented clinics, which typically use mild-pressure chambers for off-label purposes and don’t accept insurance.

Confirm current HBOT availability through the UHMS provider directory before making an appointment. Programs can change, and an accredited listing means the facility meets established standards for safety and training.

For patients in south-central Kansas outside Wichita — Hutchinson, Salina, Dodge City — Wichita is the most practical regional hub. Kansas City’s University of Kansas Health System is about three hours away and handles cases that need academic-level resources.

See our guide to choosing an HBOT clinic for what to ask before committing to a program.

Insurance and Medicare Coverage in Wichita

Medicare Part B may cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy for FDA-approved conditions. Covered indications include diabetic foot wounds that haven’t healed with standard care, radiation tissue injuries including osteoradionecrosis, arterial insufficiency wounds, and certain severe infections like necrotizing fasciitis and clostridial gangrene.

Getting coverage requires a physician referral and clinical documentation showing that conventional treatment hasn’t worked. Medicare reimbursement rates are set annually and change each year. Any figure cited online may be out of date. Always verify the current rate with your facility’s billing department.

Kansas Medicaid (KanCare) may cover HBOT for qualifying beneficiaries, but prior authorization requirements and covered indications can differ from Medicare. Contact KanCare directly or ask your provider to check your plan.

Commercial insurers operating in Kansas generally follow Medicare’s covered-indication list. If your condition is FDA-approved, the main hurdle is prior authorization. Off-label applications — HBOT for traumatic brain injury, long COVID, autism, or other investigational uses — are not covered by insurers. Those treatments require out-of-pocket payment.

Our insurance guide and cost guide have more detail.

What to Expect at Your First Session

Your first visit will start with a medical evaluation. The hyperbaric physician will review your records, check for contraindications, and explain the planned course of treatment. You’ll be asked to change into 100% cotton clothing and leave behind electronics, synthetic fabrics, and flammable products.

Most sessions run 90 minutes to two hours. Inside the chamber, you breathe pure oxygen at elevated pressure. The most common complaint is mild ear discomfort during pressurization. Staff will teach you equalization techniques before you start.

The first session guide covers the full experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wichita a regional hub for HBOT in Kansas? Yes. Wichita is the largest city in Kansas and has the most developed medical infrastructure outside of Kansas City. Patients from Hutchinson, El Dorado, and smaller surrounding communities regularly travel to Wichita for specialty wound care.

What conditions does HBOT treat in Wichita hospitals? Hospital programs in Wichita treat the same FDA-approved indications as facilities anywhere in the country. Diabetic foot ulcers and radiation wounds are the most common. The full list of covered conditions is set by Medicare and the UHMS clinical guidelines.

How much does HBOT cost without insurance in Wichita? Self-pay rates at hospital-based programs generally run $250 to $450 per session. A typical treatment course is 20 to 40 sessions, so out-of-pocket costs can reach $5,000 to $18,000 or more. Get a fee schedule from any facility before starting, and ask whether payment plans are available.

See more providers in Kansas: Kansas HBOT Providers

Medical Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before pursuing any medical treatment.