Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Knoxville, TN
Find HBOT providers in Knoxville, TN. UT Medical Center, Covenant Health, and East Tennessee facilities. Medicare and insurance coverage explained.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Knoxville, TN
Knoxville is the medical hub for East Tennessee. University of Tennessee Medical Center draws patients from Knoxville and from a wide rural catchment area across Appalachian Tennessee. For patients in the region who need HBOT, Knoxville is the most likely access point.
Finding HBOT Providers in Knoxville
The best starting point is the UHMS provider directory at uhms.org/find-a-hyperbaric-facility.html. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society accredits hyperbaric facilities that meet standards for physician oversight, equipment, and safety. An accreditation check takes two minutes and rules out programs that don’t meet clinical standards.
University of Tennessee Medical Center is East Tennessee’s academic medical center and Level I trauma center. It handles complex cases referred from across the region and operates wound care programs that typically include hyperbaric services. Covenant Health is the other major health system serving the Knoxville metro. It operates multiple hospitals throughout Knox and surrounding counties.
East Tennessee also has some standalone hyperbaric clinics outside the hospital setting. Before choosing a freestanding clinic, confirm there’s a credentialed hyperbaric physician on staff and that the chamber pressure reaches 2.0 ATA or higher. Medical-grade HBOT operates at that threshold. Mild-pressure wellness chambers do not. Read our guide to choosing a clinic before making a decision.
Insurance and Medicare Coverage in Knoxville
Medicare Part B covers HBOT for 14 FDA-approved conditions at hospital outpatient facilities. The covered conditions include diabetic wounds that haven’t responded to four weeks of standard care, compromised grafts and flaps, radiation-induced soft tissue and bone damage, carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness, arterial insufficiency ulcers, and others. These rules are national and don’t vary by state or city.
Reimbursement rates shift annually. Verify current figures with your facility before scheduling anything.
TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program, may cover HBOT for qualifying patients. Coverage depends on the specific plan and the condition. The facility’s billing team can run a prior authorization check to determine eligibility before you begin.
Major commercial insurers serving Knoxville include BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. Most follow Medicare’s clinical coverage criteria. Prior authorization is required for all covered indications. Off-label uses, including treatment for traumatic brain injury, long COVID, or anti-aging, won’t be covered under any plan.
See our insurance guide for guidance on prior authorization. Our cost guide covers what patients typically pay out of pocket per session.
What to Expect at Your First Session
Before treatment begins, a hyperbaric physician reviews your full medical history. They check for contraindications including certain pulmonary conditions, ear and sinus problems, and some medications. This intake process takes 30 to 60 minutes on your first visit.
During treatment, you’re in a pressurized chamber breathing 100% oxygen. Pressure rises gradually to 2.0 to 2.4 ATA, which takes about 10 minutes. The treatment phase at full pressure runs 90 minutes. Then pressure returns to normal over another 10 minutes or so. Total visit time is typically under two hours.
Most patients notice ear pressure during the compression phase. It’s similar to what you feel on an airplane. Staff will teach you equalization techniques before your session.
Read our first session guide for the full picture of what to expect from your first appointment through the end of a treatment course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Knoxville?
University of Tennessee Medical Center is Knoxville’s major academic medical center and handles complex wound care and HBOT referrals for East Tennessee. Covenant Health is another large regional system in the Knoxville area. Use the UHMS provider directory at uhms.org to find accredited facilities near you.
Does Medicare cover HBOT in Knoxville?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers HBOT for 14 FDA-approved conditions at hospital outpatient facilities. Coverage rules are federal and apply uniformly across all states. Off-label uses are not covered. Reimbursement rates change annually, so verify current amounts with your facility’s billing team.
How many HBOT sessions are typically required?
The number of sessions depends on the condition being treated. Diabetic foot ulcers typically require 30 to 40 sessions. Radiation tissue damage often requires 20 to 30 sessions. Carbon monoxide poisoning may require as few as 3 sessions. Your hyperbaric physician will recommend a treatment plan based on your specific condition and response to treatment.
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.