State Campaigns – North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA MILITARY HBOT PROGRAM REPORT: FY 2023 & 2024 For: Members of the NC Legislature

Prepared By:

Edward di Girolamo, PE, edigirolamo@hbot4heroes.org, 919.602.5005
Elena Schertz, NP, elena.schertz@extivita.org, 919.354.3774
James Hooker, jamesshooker39@gmail.com, 703.994.5201
Michael Merzke, michael.merzke@extivita.org, 919.354.3714

HBOT4HEROES today released its report to the North Carolina legislature: Military Veteran Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Program Report, 2023-24.

Executive Summary

To the Esteemed Members of the North Carolina Legislature, As the Executive Director of HBOT4Heroes, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, I am honored to present our third annual report on the Military Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Program. Over the past year, our mission to provide life-saving treatment to veterans suffering from PTSD and other war-related injuries has delivered transformative and consistent results, as reflected in the attached report. Since 2023, HBOT4Heroes has coordinated hyperbaric oxygen therapy through state funding and private donations, treating over 140 veterans to date and offering them renewed purpose. Our outreach has identified thousands of veterans in desperate need of this therapy – many struggling since Vietnam or subsequent conflicts. These efforts reveal a growing demand for accessible, effective care for TBI – and PTSD – related injuries. Despite our successes, the number of veterans on our waiting list continues to grow. Program results demonstrate remarkable improvements in treated veterans, including reduced PTSD symptoms, better cognitive function, and decreased suicidal ideation. Testimonials from veterans and families underscore HBOT’s life-changing impact: https://hbot4heroes.org/testimonials/. We have also pursued federal funding through the VA, but this has proven an unfounded bureaucratic challenge. While most hospitals provide HBOT for FDA-cleared uses like non-healing wounds – reducing amputations by 40% – the VA avoids adopting this practice, often resulting in avoidable amputations. Given this resistance, it is unlikely the VA will address PTSD with HBOT without an act of congress, despite peer-reviewed trials and the enclosed report demonstrating its efficacy. This federal failure highlights the urgent need for state leadership, as North Carolina has demonstrated by setting a national example in addressing these unmet needs. To meet rising demand, we have issued an RFP to expand clinics capable of delivering HBOT. This competitive process will eliminate barriers to care and reduce veteran suicides. To sustain this initiative, we respectfully request $10 million in state funding over the next two years, enabling treatment for 2,500 veterans and expanding access via state-of-the-art multi-seat HBOT chambers.