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Officials fear Ohio families could lose help for youngsters

LISBON — A program which provides the families of youngsters with long-term illnesses or disabilities with additional medical support could change in the future if House Bill 49, proposed last week in the state, is passed.

The Bureau of Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) program, which is currently helping 211 families in Columbiana County, is through the Ohio Department of Health. It helps provides additional medical prescriptions for families. For instance, a child with diabetes who has used up all of his allotted insulin for the month through Medicaid or their family’s insurance can currently obtain additional supplies through BCMH. A child with an eye disease who needs more than one pair of glasses throughout the year can get additional eyewear through the program.

The program also currently helps with the costs of any child under the age of 21 having serious health issues and seeking a diagnosis or trying to establish a plan of treatment. Additionally, it helps with the long-term coordinated treatment for those same children having a physically disabling condition or chronic health problem.

As it stands now, those parents needing assistance can call the nursing staff at the local health department and get assistance dealing with the red tape to get the needed services and prescriptions.

However, Wesley Vins, commissioner of the Columbiana County General Health District, and director of nursing Jennifer Davis are both concerned that proposed changes would do away with some of the aspects of this additional safety net for those families.

Dr. Jack Amato, president of the county health board, noted that most often it seems the programs which are doing the most good are the ones the legislatures want to change or eliminate, while those programs which are not working continue on.

Vins said that “211 families in our county count on this program. If any child loses benefits or services it’s not acceptable.”

Vins and Davis said they still have questions they are trying to get answered about the proposed changes, but from what they have learned so far, it appears the BCMH would become part of Medicaid. It also appears that in the future, only those children who qualify for Medicaid may qualify for the program. Currently, Davis said of the families utilizing the program in this county and across the state, about half have Medicaid and half have private insurance, but in many cases their family income makes it difficult for them to reach the deductible.

Should a family on Medicaid become financially ineligible after the proposed new program goes into effect, Davis and Vins say they are concerned about those families who will have to reapply by themselves and without tdhe assistance of the nursing staff at the health department. Additionally, Vins said he is concerned about the use of phrases such as “comparable services” which may or may not be the same. At this point, Vins and Davis remain concerned about the unanswered questions regarding the program.

Those families currently in the BCMH program should be receiving letters in the mail explaining some of the proposed changes for the program and urging those families concerned to contact state legislators and the county commissioners, who are responsible for allocating the money for the program.

The BCMH program has been a in place to serve children with special needs since 1919.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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