Committee hears testimony on hyperbaric oxygen therapy bills; IDVA urges merging with House appropriation

The Veterans Affairs and The Military Committee heard extended testimony and discussion on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) legislation, including Senate Bill 206 and related House measures (HB1120 and HB1180). Director Adams of the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) testified that IDVA opposes Senate Bill 206 "in its current form" and recommended folding provisions into House Bill 1180, which includes a $10,000,000 appropriation for veterans' mental health.

Director Adams said he had reviewed the pilot study and the agency needs a funding vehicle to support any ongoing program. "If we're going to continue to actually have a program, I think there needs to be appropriations to support it," he told the committee. Gabrielle (staff) added that HB1180 would provide a one-time $10,000,000 appropriation from a Department of Insurance fund.

Testimony detailed the 2017 pilot and operational challenges. Aaron Bally, an early organizer for the measure, outlined background data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the pilot run by Purdue University. Bally said the pilot required veterans to travel to Purdue for testing and treatment and that the program’s low completion rate stemmed in part from travel burdens and other eligibility limits. He described HBOT treatment in lay terms: patients breathe pure oxygen at about 1.5 atmospheres of pressure in an enclosed chamber; sessions last about an hour, and treatment courses cited in testimony comprised roughly 40 one-hour sessions (commonly called "dives"). Bally and others said veterans who completed the full protocol showed measurable improvement in symptoms.

Officials and advocates discussed funding, eligibility and program design. IDVA cited a Department of Health fiscal summary saying an initial appropriation of $1,000,000 had spent $848,914, leaving $151,085 in the account; witnesses also described the Military Family Relief Fund as having grown over time and discussed proposals to cap annual state spending for HBOT (suggested caps mentioned in testimony included $800,000–$900,000 per year or a limit on the number of veterans served annually).

Other testimony asked the committee to clarify provider language in the bill. Heather Harris of the Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses of Indiana recommended removing three "physician-only" references and using provider-neutral language so advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants with appropriate training could supervise HBOT in facilities. Harris said the bill already used provider-neutral language in many places but contained three clauses that specified physicians only.

Committee members asked IDVA and sponsors to draft amended language addressing funding sources, caps, provider scope, and whether the bill’s testing requirements should be narrowed so veterans could be treated at closer, approved facilities rather than being required to return to Purdue for re-testing. The committee took no final vote on the HBOT measures during the hearing and directed sponsors and agencies to return with revised language and funding options.

Witnesses also discussed cost estimates and insurance coverage. Testimony recommended using Medicare (CMS) fee levels as a reference; witnesses cited a CMS-equivalent price range of roughly $150–$175 per half hour in many parts of the country and noted that private insurance generally does not cover HBOT for TBI/PTSD because it is not an established standard of care in the U.S. Witnesses offered international and anecdotal examples where HBOT has been used more widely.

The committee paused the item for further drafting and stakeholder consultation rather than advancing the bill on a final vote.