Do you have a child with a medical handicap? You may be interested in learning more about BCMH!

According to the Tuscarawas County Health Department, BCMH is a health care program in the Ohio Department of Health that helps to link families of children with special health care needs to a network of quality providers.

It also works to help families obtain payment for the services their children need.

BCMH’s notes a mission, “to assure, through the development and support of high quality, coordinated systems, that children with special health care needs and their families obtain comprehensive care and services that are family centered, community-based and culturally sensitive.”

The program, however; is changing.

Per an informative article shared by the Tuscarawas County Health Department,  “The Executive Budget creates a new Children with Medical Handicaps program at Ohio Medicaid that will ensure there is a sustainable program available to support Ohio’s most vulnerable children and their families into the future. All individuals – both Medicaid and non-Medicaid eligible – who apply for the Children with Medical Handicaps program on or after July 1, 2017, will be transitioned into Medicaid or the new Medicaid CMH program effective January 1, 2018.”

On the Tuscarawas County Health Department’s website you can find a long list of frequently asked questions (along with answers) including, Will children in the current BCMH program lose services under this proposal; What happens to those who apply for CMH services after on or after July 1, 2017; At what level will financial eligibility be set for the Medicaid CMH program; Will Medicaid establish medical criteria; and more.

Michaela Madison Reporting