B.C.M.H., stands for the Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps.

This is a health care program of the Ohio Department of Health which aims to link families of children with special health care needs to a network of quality providers and helps families obtain payment for the services their child needs.

These special needs may be caused by a condition a child is born with or develops later. Eligible children are those who are: age 0-21 (with some exceptions), permanent residents of Ohio, and under the care of a B.C.M.H. approved physician (M.D. or D.O.) for a chronic medical condition.

A list of providers is available on the Ohio Department of Health website www.odh.state.oh.us. B.C.M.H. has three programs to help children with special needs.

The diagnostic program aims to rule out or diagnose a special care need for the child or develop a plan of treatment. The treatment program provides services from an approved provider for an eligible condition.

Both medical and financial eligibility are required for this program. The service coordination program provides services for families helping to locate and identify sources for their child’s needs.

Many conditions are eligible for the B.C.M.H. program if requirements are met. Some of those conditions include AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, ceptic fibrosis, diabetes, hearing loss, sickle cell disease, hemophilia congenital heart disease, cleft lip/palate, juvenile arthritis and spina bifida.

Should you have any questions please contact the Ironton City Health Department at 532-2172.

Bonnie Holmes, R.N. is the B.C.M.H. nurse at the Ironton City Health Department. She can be reached at (740) 532-2172 or e-mail her at bcmh@odh.ohio.gov. Those interested can call B.C.M.H. direct at 614-466-1700 or 1-800-755-4769.