The Health Department operates the Children with Medical Handicaps Program (CMH) through a grant from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). CMH links families of children with special health care needs to a network of quality providers and helps families obtain payment for the services their children need. CMH promotes early identification of children with handicapping conditions and treatment of those children by appropriate health care providers.
Major components of the program include: conducting quality assurance activities to establish standards of care and to determine unmet needs of children with handicaps and their families; funding services for the diagnosis and treatment of medically eligible conditions; collaborating with public health nurses and local health departments to assist in increasing access to care; supporting service coordination for children with selected diagnoses; and assisting families to access and utilize appropriate sources of payment for services for their child.
Home visits are made by the Public Health Nurse (PHN)to help families coordinate services. The PHN works with other agencies to make sure the child’s needs are met and keeps in touch with families with letters and phone calls. The PHN coordinates and staffs specialty clinics and informs families and care providers about CMH and the Medical Home Concept.
Through the development and support of high quality, coordinated systems, children with special health care needs and their families obtain comprehensive care and services that are family centered, community based and culturally sensitive.
Phone: 740-354-8922 or Email: christine.thomas@portsmouthoh.org
