MDHHS has 45 days to approve or deny a Home Help request. The count starts the day after your county MDHHS office receives the referral.
Paid care can start after the approval, once the caregiver is enrolled with the state.
The 4 steps
MDHHS lists the steps on its Home Help page:
- Step 1: Referral. You, or someone helping you, ask the county MDHHS office for Home Help by phone, mail, fax or in person.
- Step 2: Forms. An adult services worker sends the DHS-390 application and the MDHHS-6200 medical needs form. A Medicaid-enrolled medical provider completes the medical form. That can be a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, occupational therapist, physical therapist or clinical nurse specialist.
- Step 3: Home visit. The worker visits to assess what help is needed. If a caregiver has been chosen, it is best for them to be there.
- Step 4: Decision. The worker approves or denies the request and sends a written notice within 45 days.
Deadlines to know
- 45 days. The state’s deadline to decide. Its referral policy counts 45 calendar days, starting the day after the referral is received.
- 21 days. The time the introduction letter gives you to send back missing forms.
- 10 business days. The time to tell your worker about a change after approval, such as a hospital stay or a new caregiver.
What slows an approval down
- No active Medicaid. Home Help can’t pay until Medicaid is in place. If you need it, apply at MI Bridges.
- A late medical form. MDHHS needs the medical needs form to approve the request.
- A caregiver who isn’t enrolled. Every caregiver must be approved in CHAMPS, the state’s Medicaid provider system, and have a provider ID number before they can be paid.
What to do while you wait
- Send back the DHS-390 and ask the medical office to complete the MDHHS-6200 right away.
- Choose the caregiver and have them start CHAMPS enrollment. MDHHS Provider Support helps caregivers at 800-979-4662.
- Get ready for the home visit. Our guide to preparing for the Home Help assessment shows how.
After the approval
Before the first payment, the client and the caregiver or agency sign the Home Help Services Agreement. It lists the approved services and hours.
If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for a hearing.
Panda Care helps Michigan families with the forms and caregiver enrollment, and pays caregivers $19 an hour, paid every 2 weeks. Call (313) 284-2501 or visit our Michigan page.
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