Perry County Health Department
"Healthy Families...Healthy Communities"
Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps
BCMH, the Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps, is a health care program in the Ohio Department of Health. BCMH links families of children with special needs to a network of quality providers and helps families payment for services their child needs.
BCMH supports the medical home for children with special health care needs. A medical home is a way to provide high quality health care that is:
Most importantly, a medical home is a partnership between the doctor and the child's family. BCMH works with doctors and other health care providers to ensure that every child with a special health care need will have a medical home.
What are special health care needs?
Special health care needs may be caused by a condition a child is born with or develops later.
Which children are eligible for BCMH?
Those who are:
Financial eligibility is required for Treatment Program only!
What conditions are eligible for BCMH?
Some of the eligible conditions are:
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How can BCMH help?
BCMH has three programs to help to children with special health care needs. All services must be given by BCMH-approved providers
Children can receive services for three months, from BCMH-approved providers, to rule out or diagnose a special health care need or establish a plan of treatment. These services may include:
Financial eligibility is not required for the Diagnostic Program.
Children can receive services for one year, from BCMH-approved providers for treatment of an eligible condition. Both medical and financial eligibility are required for the treatment program.. Treatment services may include:
All services must be related to the child's eligible condition. If the child remains eligible, services may be renewed each year until the child reaches age 21.
The Service Coordination Program helps families locate and coordinate services for their child. This is a limited program available to children, with specific conditions, who are seen by a team of providers at hospitals approved by BCMH for service coordination.
How is a child enrolled in the BCMH program?
The child's BCMH-approved doctor (M.D. or D.O.) sends a Medical Application Form to BCMH. Public Health nurses can start the application process by referring families to BCMH-approved doctors. The parent or legal guardian (or client, if 18 years of age or older) must sign the release of information and consent on the application form before BCMH can act on the application.
How can families learn more about BCMH.
How can families find a BCMH-approved provider for their child?
For more information, please call the Perry County Health Department and ask for Don or Cindy. Their number is 740 342-5179.
You may also link to the BCMH website at the Ohio Department of Health at http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/cmh/cwmh/bcmh1.aspx