Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh’s healthcare market is unlike any other city in the country. Two giant health systems — UPMC and Highmark Allegheny Health Network — have competed aggressively for decades, and that competition shapes insurance coverage decisions in ways that matter directly to patients seeking HBOT. Before you do anything else in Pittsburgh, figure out which system your insurance plan covers.

Finding HBOT Providers in Pittsburgh

UPMC is one of the largest health systems in the United States. It operates dozens of hospitals across Western Pennsylvania, with UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Montefiore in Oakland as the academic flagship. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is integrated with UPMC, giving the system strong academic medicine depth. UPMC’s wound care program handles a high volume of complex cases and includes hyperbaric medicine services.

Highmark Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is the competing system. AHN operates Allegheny General Hospital in the North Side, West Penn Hospital, and multiple other facilities across the Pittsburgh metro. AHN’s wound care services cover a significant patient population, particularly those insured by Highmark.

Here’s what matters practically: UPMC and Highmark have had long-running network disputes. If you have UPMC insurance, you generally need to use UPMC facilities to stay in-network. If you have Highmark, your in-network path runs through AHN. Going out of that alignment can create real out-of-pocket costs for a treatment that runs 20 to 40 sessions.

The UHMS provider directory lists accredited programs. Use it to confirm which specific facilities in the Pittsburgh area have active, accredited hyperbaric programs — not every hospital in either system will have one. Our guide to choosing a hyperbaric clinic walks through the right questions to ask before you call.

Insurance and Medicare Coverage in Pittsburgh

Medicare Part B may cover HBOT at Medicare-approved hospital outpatient facilities in Pittsburgh for FDA-approved conditions. UPMC and AHN facilities are Medicare-approved. Your physician must document medical necessity and prior treatment history before Medicare authorizes HBOT for wound care cases.

Pennsylvania Medicaid (Medical Assistance) coverage for HBOT applies to qualifying beneficiaries. In Allegheny County, Medicaid managed care plans include UPMC for You and Highmark Healthy Blue. These are the same health system insurance arms that compete in the commercial market. If you’re on UPMC for You, you’re in the UPMC network. If you’re on Highmark Healthy Blue, you’re in the AHN network.

Commercial plans in Pittsburgh come primarily from UPMC Health Plan and Highmark. The system alignment is the same: your insurer generally directs you to their affiliated hospitals. Get this sorted out before your referring physician submits your referral, because switching systems mid-course creates administrative headaches.

National carriers like Aetna, United, and Cigna also operate in Pittsburgh and typically have broader network agreements that include both UPMC and AHN facilities. If you’re on one of those plans, you may have more flexibility.

Off-label HBOT isn’t covered by any payer. See our insurance guide and cost guide for out-of-pocket ranges.

What to Expect at Your First Session

HBOT at a Pittsburgh hospital program follows the same protocol everywhere: 90 minutes to two hours in a pressurized chamber, typically five days a week for wound care courses. The pressure change at the start is mild. Staff stay in contact throughout.

Pittsburgh’s geography — hills, bridges, and neighborhoods — means getting to daily appointments requires some advance planning. Both UPMC and AHN have facilities across the city and suburbs, and the hyperbaric program may not be at the location closest to your home. Ask when scheduling whether satellite wound care locations handle HBOT or whether you need to travel to the main hospital.

Our first session guide covers everything from what to wear to what a full treatment course looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I have UPMC insurance but want to go to an AHN facility for HBOT? In most cases, AHN would be out-of-network for a UPMC insurance plan, and vice versa. That means higher cost-sharing — potentially paying the full session cost rather than a standard copay. If there’s a clinical reason to cross systems, talk to your insurer about whether any exceptions apply. Otherwise, stay within your network.

Does UPMC’s academic medicine background make a difference for HBOT? For complex cases, yes. UPMC’s integration with the University of Pittsburgh means access to specialist depth — vascular surgeons, plastic surgeons, infectious disease specialists — who can collaborate on difficult wound care cases. For straightforward diabetic foot wound protocols, that depth may not be necessary, but it’s available.

Can patients from rural Western Pennsylvania access Pittsburgh HBOT programs? Yes. Pittsburgh is the regional hub for Western PA, and both UPMC and AHN have extended networks that reach into surrounding counties. Some wound care services are available at suburban and regional hospitals, though HBOT specifically may require travel to a main campus. Ask the program at the time of referral.

See more providers in Pennsylvania: /providers/pennsylvania/

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.