Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Chattanooga, TN
Find HBOT providers in Chattanooga, TN. Erlanger Health System, CHI Memorial, and Southeast Tennessee facilities. Medicare and insurance coverage.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga sits at the convergence of Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Erlanger Health System operates here as the regional academic medical center for Southeast Tennessee and a referral destination for parts of North Georgia and northern Alabama. That geographic position gives Chattanooga’s health systems a larger patient base than the city’s population alone would suggest.
Finding HBOT Providers in Chattanooga
Use the UHMS provider directory at uhms.org/find-a-hyperbaric-facility.html as your starting point. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society accredits facilities that meet clinical standards for physician oversight, safety, and equipment. It’s the most reliable filter for finding legitimate medical-grade programs.
Erlanger Health System is Chattanooga’s primary academic medical center and Level I trauma center. It handles complex wound care cases from across Southeast Tennessee and the surrounding tri-state region. CHI Memorial Hospital is another large system serving the Chattanooga metro, operating multiple campuses in Hamilton County.
Chattanooga is a mid-sized city, so the standalone hyperbaric clinic market is smaller than in Nashville or Memphis. Most patients will access HBOT through a hospital-based wound care center. If you’re looking at a freestanding clinic, read our guide to choosing a clinic and ask specifically about the chamber pressure rating and the credentials of the supervising physician.
Patients from North Georgia or northern Alabama who find Chattanooga more accessible than Atlanta or Birmingham can typically use Chattanooga facilities. Your insurance follows you, not the state line. Confirm with your insurer and the facility’s billing team before scheduling.
Insurance and Medicare Coverage in Chattanooga
Medicare Part B covers HBOT for 14 FDA-approved conditions at hospital outpatient facilities. Covered indications include diabetic lower extremity ulcers, compromised grafts and flaps, soft tissue radiation necrosis, osteoradionecrosis, gas gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, crush injuries, arterial insufficiency ulcers, and others. Rules are national.
Reimbursement rates change each year. Get a current figure directly from your facility’s billing team, not from a website.
TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program, may cover HBOT for qualifying Tennessee residents. If you’re a Georgia or Alabama Medicaid patient, your state’s Medicaid program would apply. Ask the facility billing team to verify coverage for out-of-state Medicaid before scheduling.
Commercial insurers with a presence in the Chattanooga market include BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (for Georgia patients), Cigna, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. These plans generally follow Medicare’s coverage criteria. Prior authorization is required. Off-label uses won’t be covered.
See our insurance guide for how to handle prior authorization requests. Our cost guide covers typical out-of-pocket costs per session and across a treatment course.
What to Expect at Your First Session
Your first visit starts with a medical intake. A hyperbaric physician or trained clinician reviews your history, confirms the diagnosis and HBOT indication, and screens for contraindications. This takes 30 to 60 minutes and happens before any chamber time.
Treatment involves breathing 100% oxygen inside a pressurized chamber at 2.0 to 2.4 ATA. Compression takes roughly 10 minutes. Treatment at full pressure runs 90 minutes. Decompression takes another 10 minutes. You’re usually done in under two hours total.
Ear pressure during compression is the most common sensation patients describe. It’s manageable once you know the equalization techniques, which staff will cover before your first session.
Our first session guide covers everything in more detail, including what to wear, what medications to disclose, and what happens if you feel claustrophobic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Chattanooga?
Erlanger Health System is Chattanooga’s major academic and safety-net hospital and the primary regional hub for complex wound care in Southeast Tennessee. CHI Memorial Hospital also serves the Chattanooga metro. Use the UHMS provider directory at uhms.org to find accredited facilities in the area.
Does Medicare cover HBOT in Chattanooga?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers HBOT for 14 FDA-approved conditions at hospital outpatient facilities. These rules are federal and apply the same way in Chattanooga as in every other state. Off-label uses are not covered. Reimbursement rates change annually, so verify current amounts with your facility’s billing team.
Can patients from North Georgia or Alabama use Chattanooga HBOT providers?
Yes. Erlanger Health System and other Chattanooga facilities serve a multi-state catchment area that includes North Georgia and parts of Alabama. Patients from outside Tennessee can access Chattanooga HBOT programs. Medicare and commercial insurance rules apply based on the patient’s coverage, not the state where treatment occurs. Verify your coverage with the facility’s billing team before scheduling.
See more providers in Tennessee: Tennessee HBOT Provider Directory
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.