Realizing that the Federal Government is not currently supporting HBOT for treating Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a number of states have undertaken a grassroots effort to provide HBOT to their veterans. Nine states have already approved the use of HBOT and a further six states are evaluating doing the same. The State of Arizona passed HB2513 in March of 2018 to support this treatment, becoming the 5th state to do so. The Arizona bill was passed unanimously by The State House and Senate. The Federal Government is finally beginning to catch up to the States; Former Pres. Trump signed Senate Bill S785 into law in October 2020 which offers to pilot the treatment utilizing alternative therapies including HBOT.

Arizona’s approach is slightly different from other states. It is based on a Private-Public partnership to provide funding for treatment of veterans at two privately owned and operated, six-person HBOT chamber locations, in Tucson (NorthStar HBOT) and in Phoenix (HBOT of Arizona). These two facilities have treated an estimated 150 veterans in the past 24 years, and have the capacity to treat 300 veterans annually. Other providers will be added as the need for treatment grows.

Healing Arizona Veterans (HAV) sponsors the treatment of veterans at the two privately operated HBOT facilities. The average one-time cost to fully treat a veteran is $15,000 (80 HBOT sessions) as compared to the traditional cost of managing symptoms of around $15,000 annually. HAV will sponsor the treatment as private donations come in. HAV tracks cost and clinical indicators, before and after the treatment. The results will be compiled and made available to current and future donors to demonstrate the return for their donations. Some of the veterans have provided testimonials on how the treatment has changed their lives. All HAV Board members and Senior Staff are volunteers. As such, over 96% of all donations are used for treatment.

Veterans are evaluated for treatment based on the extent of their brain injury. They are also assessed on their exposure to burn pit toxins, which is increasingly recognized as significantly exacerbating the symptoms of TBI and PTSD. All patients will be treated with HBOT, and where appropriate, adjunctive therapies e.g. supplements.

As of September 2022, HAV has sponsored the full treatment of 51 veterans, with a further 35 in the treatment process. These veterans have served in all branches of the military, and in many theaters of operations. Donations are the only source of funding to treat the veterans.

HAV’s goal is to ramp up the treatment from 50 to 100 over a three-year time frame. This would require cash and vehicle donations of $750,000 in the first year rising to $1.5 million in the third year.