Welcome to the International Hyperbaric Medical Association

We appreciate your interest in our efforts to improve patient outcomes by making hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) the standard of care for all the conditions for which it is appropriate. Unified, medicine practitioners can become effective solution providers in the future of the American healthcare. Full implementation of HBOT will reduce health care costs while improving outcomes, treatment effectiveness and system efficiency.

The mission of the International Hyperbaric Medical Association (IHMA) is to improve public health by implementing high ethical and scientific standards for hyperbaric medicine; promoting sound hyperbaric research and treatment protocols; educating the medical community, the general public, decision makers and policy experts about the benefits of hyperbaric medicine and adjunctive therapies; and working to make HBOT more universally available and affordable. These efforts will eventually lead to most hospitals in America having a hyperbaric center available for both inpatient and outpatient treatments.

The IHMA has already achieved significant milestones toward the accomplishment of its goals. In 2001, the IHMA submitted diabetic foot wound treatment to CMS for a National Coverage Determination. The purpose was to greatly improve patient outcomes and at the same time create an environment favorable to the training of new practitioners and to the creation of new hyperbaric centers in hospitals and clinics. Over the past 11 years, the IHMA’s mission has been partially realized as there are now nearly twice as many hyperbaric centers and hundreds of new trained health care practitioners.

We are the only hyperbaric medical organization with a registered lobbying team in Washington, D.C., and have testified before Congress on several occasions. We have also met and presented to hundreds of state and local legislators and policy makers. Prior to the advent of the IHMA, the last time Congress heard about HBOT officially (via testimony) was in 1963. Recent work with policy makers has led to a new respect for the hyperbaric medical field and to an understanding that hyperbaric medicine can assist governments with their public health challenges. Research is being conducted on several promising new indications, including traumatic brain injury, and research efforts are being planned. Payment for treatment is becoming more routine. However, much remains to be done. Your support will help us reach our goals faster.

We sincerely hope you will chose to join this great movement. Together we can improve American healthcare.