The Health Department’s Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) is a program designed to help families of children with possible medical problems get early detection and help to provide financial support if long-term care or treatment is needed.
The BCMH program has two components. First, there’s a diagnostic part where Public Health Nurses check the child for any condition that may be debilitating such as coordination, breathing, heart, or developmental problems. The second part is the treatment program.
Clients meeting qualifications can reapply to the program annually until the child is 21 years old. BCMH covers the cost of items such as related doctor visits, lab work, medical equipment, and physical therapy.
The largest percentage of patients are ones you wouldn’t even know had a medical problem. These children may have heart or seizure conditions for example. A small percentage of clients may require wheelchairs or other care products.
The Health Department’s BCMH Nurses help manage the case, do home visits, and help steer the family through the health care system, including referrals to other agencies where they can get help.
Nurses in the BCMH program help educate the families on what to expect and what they can do. It can be a scary time for parents, but the BCMH program is there to help and let them know that their children can live a full life even with a medical challenge.
For more information on the BCMH program, call Public Health Nursing at 419-774-4700.