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The Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) is a program administered by the Ohio Department of Health that links families of children with special health care needs with health care providers to obtain payment for the medical services their child needs. Our office helps those families who live in Franklin County. If you live outside Franklin County, or wish to visit the Ohio Department of Health’s BCMH web page, you can find additional information here.
What is a Public Health Nurse?
A Public Health Nurse (PHN) is a registered nurse hired by Franklin County Public Health to work with children (ages 0 – 21 years). A PHN can be an important resource for families who may be working with many agencies and providers of care for their child. The information below will help explain how PHNs can help your family and how PHNs work with BCMH.
A PHN is skilled in working with children and their families. She is also an expert on what assistance is available in your community.
PHNs work with BCMH to:
- Help identify children with special health care needs;
- Make sure children with special needs are referred to appropriate doctors and other services and supports;
- Help your family find and use the services needed for your child;
- Provide you with health care information.
PHNs can Provide the Following Services
PHNs can provide the following services:
- Help you learn about your child’s growth and development;
- Explain the BCMH program, the Letter of Approval and other BCMH paperwork;
- Help you understand your child’s plan of treatment;
- Help you fill out forms for BCMH;
- Refer your child to doctors, other services, supports and resources;
- Work with other agencies to make sure your child’s needs are met;
- Help you understand and work with your medical insurance plan;
- Help you with appeals of denied services;
- Keep in touch through phone calls, letters, and home visits.
BCMH has three programs to help children with special health care needs: Diagnostic Program, Treatment Program, and Service Coordination Program. All services must be given by BCMH-approved providers.
Children can receive services from BCMH-approved providers, to rule out or diagnose a special health care need or establish a plan of treatment. These services may include:
- Tests and x-rays
- Visits to BCMH-approved doctors
- Up to five days in the hospital
- Public health nursing services
- Therapy evaluations
Children can receive services 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:
- Laboratory tests and x-rays
- Physician visits
- Prescription medications
- Therapies
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Surgeries and hospitalizations
- Service coordination
- Public health nursing services
This 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.
- Apply at your child’s BCMH-approved doctor’s office
- or -
- Contact our office at (614) 525-5960 or email us.
Those children who are:
- Age 0 – 21
- Permanent residents of Ohio
- Under the care of a BCMH-approved doctor and who have or may have a chronic medical condition
Some of the eligible conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Diabetes
- Cerebral palsy
- Hearing loss
- Spina bifida
- Chronic lung disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hemophilia
- Metabolic disorders
- Sickle cell disease
- Cancer
- AIDS
- Severe vision disorders
- Cleft lip/palate
- Scoliosis
- Juvenile arthritis
- Congenital heart disease
- Allergies
- Acute or infectious conditions
- Conditions that are self-correcting through growth
- Developmental delay
- Learning disabilities
- Mental retardation
- Nearsightedness/farsightedness
- Psychological or emotional disorders
- Routine dental and orthodontia problems
- Experimental care
- Well child care
- Out-of-state care
HIPPA/ FCPH’s Privacy Practice Summary in English | Spanish | Somali
Family Handbook for Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs in Ohio
Submit the following changes to us by phone, fax or email. It is VERY important to keep this information current:
- ADDRESS
- PHONE NUMBER(S)
- INSURANCE
- NAME (YOURS OR YOUR CHILD’S)
- NEW MEDICAL SERVICES, NEEDS OR DIAGNOSIS
- MANAGING BCMH DOCTOR
Your PHN will contact you to verify the changes in your information. If you don’t hear from her, please call (614) 525-5960 or email us.
- Your child must see their managing physician at least once per year to be eligible to apply for renewal of BCMH services for the next year.
- Renewal for the BCMH Treatment program is on a yearly basis. It is not automatic!
- You should receive your renewal packet approximately two months before the Letter of Approval (“LOA”) will expire. Call your PHN when you receive your packet! She will help you with the renewal application and take care of referrals and services needed prior to the LOA expiring.
- If your child is covered by Medicaid, Caresource or Molina you will not receive a renewal packet. Your financial eligibility will be automatically renewed.
- If your child loses Medicaid benefits because you did not show up for your Medicaid appointment, or failed to turn in the necessary paperwork, you may lose your BCMH coverage.
- Your child must see their BCMH-approved managing physician at least once per year to be eligible for BCMH.
- If you lose Medicaid coverage due to financial reasons, contact your PHN. You will NOT lose BCMH coverage for this reason until your current LOA expires.
- You should not pay co-pays or deductibles for treatment of your child’s medical condition. This includes office visits and prescription medication.
- Your LOA is like an insurance card. Take it to all medical appointments so that all specialists are aware of BCMH coverage.
- All services must be given by BCMH-approved providers. Care from a non-BCMH provider will result in you having to pay the bill for those services.
- If your child begins seeing a new specialist, contact your PHN to discuss if additional services can be added to the LOA.
- Costshare is a BCMH financial assistance program that may be available to families that are determined to be over income for BCMH services and have received a Denial of Service letter. Call (614) 525-5960 and your PHN can help you with this program.
- If you receive a Denial of Service letter, please call your PHN at (614) 525-5960.
- If you ever have any questions about the BCMH program, please call or PHN at (614) 525-5960 or email us.
