How to Renew Your Michigan Home Help Program Approval
If you receive services through the Michigan Home Help Program, your approval is not permanent. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) requires every participant to complete a renewal to confirm that care needs and eligibility are still current.
Renewing on time helps avoid any gaps in care or payment for the caregiver.
Care Plan Inc. helps Michigan caregivers stay organized throughout the renewal process. Once hours are approved, we pay caregivers $17 or more per hour weekly for the care they provide.
Why You Must Renew
MDHHS reviews each case regularly to make sure medical needs, living situations, and Medicaid coverage remain accurate. These reviews typically happen once every twelve months but can occur sooner if there are major changes in health or care needs.
Renewing ensures that both the care recipient and caregiver stay active in the program and that approved hours match the person’s current needs.
When to Start the Renewal
You will receive a renewal notice or reassessment letter from your Adult Services Worker, often called an ASW, before your current approval period ends. The letter includes instructions on what to update and when the reassessment will take place.
Start preparing as soon as you receive this letter. Waiting too long to schedule appointments or update forms can cause your approval to lapse temporarily.
Step 1: Confirm Medicaid Coverage
The first step in the renewal process is making sure the care recipient’s Medicaid is still active. MDHHS cannot renew Home Help approval if Medicaid coverage has expired or is pending renewal.
If Medicaid is due for renewal, submit your documents early and confirm your eligibility. Learn how in How to Maintain Medicaid Eligibility for the Michigan Home Help Program
Step 2: Update the DHS-54A Medical Needs Form
The DHS-54A Medical Needs Form must be current for MDHHS to confirm the care recipient’s medical eligibility. The form should be completed by a doctor or qualified healthcare provider and must be dated within the past year.
If your current form is older than twelve months, schedule an appointment to have your doctor complete a new one. Learn how to do that in How to Update or Replace Your DHS-54A Medical Needs Form
Step 3: Prepare for the Adult Services Worker Visit
Once Medicaid and medical forms are confirmed, your ASW will schedule a visit to review your case in person. During the visit, they will assess the care recipient’s health, environment, and daily needs.
This visit helps determine if the number of hours should stay the same, increase, or decrease based on current needs.
Learn how to prepare in What to Expect During Your Michigan Home Help Reassessment
Step 4: Submit All Required Documents
Along with the DHS-54A form, you may need to provide additional paperwork such as identification, proof of address, or income verification.
If any documents are missing, MDHHS will notify you. Submitting everything at once helps speed up the renewal process and avoid delays.
Step 5: Review Your Approval Letter
After the reassessment is complete, MDHHS will send you a new approval letter. This letter confirms that your services are renewed and lists your new approval period and hours.
If you notice any errors or a change in hours that does not match your needs, contact your ASW to discuss a review.
Learn how to read your letter in How to Read and Understand Your Michigan Home Help Approval Letter
What Happens if You Miss the Renewal
If your renewal is not completed on time, MDHHS may pause services until all required steps are finished. Caregiver payments will also stop during this period.
To avoid interruptions, schedule your doctor’s appointment early and confirm your reassessment visit date with your ASW.
If services are paused, you can usually restore them quickly by submitting the missing paperwork or scheduling the reassessment.
Step 6: Confirm Caregiver Enrollment and Hours
Once renewal is approved, verify that your caregiver remains enrolled in CHAMPS and that their hours match the new approval letter. If anything changes, Care Plan Inc. can help update the records and confirm that pay continues without delay.
Learn about CHAMPS in Understanding the CHAMPS System for the Michigan Home Help Program
Renewal Checklist
To help stay on track, use this simple renewal checklist:
Confirm active Medicaid coverage
Schedule a new DHS-54A appointment with your doctor
Gather identification and supporting documents
Prepare for your ASW visit
Review and confirm your approval letter
Verify caregiver enrollment and pay status
Checking each item before your current approval period ends helps ensure your case continues smoothly.
How Care Plan Inc. Helps
Care Plan Inc. is not part of MDHHS and does not decide who qualifies or how many hours are approved. Our agency helps Michigan caregivers stay compliant by explaining renewal steps, updating caregiver enrollment, and ensuring accurate payments.
We pay caregivers $17 or more per hour weekly for approved hours under the Michigan Home Help Program.
Read Maintaining Eligibility for the Home Help Program and How to Avoid Payment Delays in the Michigan Home Help Program
Care Plan Inc. helps caregivers across Michigan renew their approvals, stay compliant, and receive weekly pay for approved Home Help hours.
Check your eligibility or enter your information through the Contact form for inquiries.