Understanding Your Michigan Home Help Approval Letter
After applying or renewing for the Michigan Home Help Program, you’ll receive an approval letter from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). This letter confirms your eligibility and explains how many hours of in-home care have been approved.
Knowing how to read and understand your approval letter is an important step for both clients and caregivers. It ensures everyone knows how many hours are authorized, what period they cover, and what tasks are included in the care plan.
Care Plan Inc. helps caregivers interpret these letters so payments remain accurate and consistent. Once MDHHS approves the hours, we pay caregivers $17 or more per hour weekly for the time they provide care.
What the approval letter means
The approval letter is official confirmation that the care recipient qualifies for services under the Michigan Home Help Program. It’s issued after the reassessment visit or after an initial application is reviewed.
Each letter lists specific details about the case, including:
Case number and approval dates
Approved number of care hours per month
The type of care tasks allowed
The name of the assigned Adult Services Worker (ASW)
Instructions about next steps or renewals
It’s important to read the entire letter and make a copy for your records. MDHHS bases all caregiver payments on this letter.
When you’ll receive the letter
You usually receive the approval letter a few weeks after your reassessment visit or after MDHHS reviews your submitted forms. It can arrive by mail or appear in your MI Bridges account if you’re enrolled online.
If several weeks pass after your reassessment and you haven’t received the letter, contact your ASW to make sure all paperwork was processed. Missing forms, unsigned medical documents, or outdated contact information can delay approval.
How to read each section
Most approval letters are divided into a few key parts. Here’s what each one means:
1. Case Information
This section lists the care recipient’s name, Medicaid ID, and case number. Make sure this information is accurate.
2. Approval Dates
These are the dates your services are active. Typically, approvals last twelve months but can vary. The end date marks when your case must be reviewed again.
3. Authorized Hours
This is one of the most important lines. It shows the total number of care hours approved each month. Those hours determine the caregiver’s weekly pay.
If you think the number of hours doesn’t match your current needs, talk to your ASW to discuss a possible review.
4. Approved Tasks
This section lists which Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are covered. These might include bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and medication reminders.
5. Comments or Notes
Sometimes MDHHS includes special notes or instructions, such as requests for updated medical forms or reminders about renewals. Don’t ignore this section, it often contains your next steps.
What to do after receiving the letter
Once you receive your approval letter, review every line carefully. Confirm your hours, tasks, and service dates. Then share a copy with your caregiver or with Care Plan Inc. if we help manage your care plan.
This allows us to make sure everything matches the state’s approval so payments can be made correctly and on time.
Keep your letter stored safely with your other MDHHS documents such as the DHS-54A Medical Needs Form and renewal notices.
If the approved hours seem too low
Sometimes the approved hours are lower than expected. This can happen if the DHS-54A Medical Needs Form wasn’t detailed enough or if the reassessment didn’t fully reflect your daily needs.
If that happens:
Call your ASW to ask for clarification.
Request a copy of the assessment notes to review.
If needed, schedule a new doctor visit to update your medical documentation.
Submit the new information for a reconsideration or file an appeal if necessary.
Learn how appeals work in Appeal a Denial for the Home Help Program
What happens after approval
After MDHHS approves hours and sends your letter, your case information is entered into the CHAMPS system. Caregivers can then log their time and submit timesheets based on the authorized hours.
Care Plan Inc. reviews timesheets, confirms approved hours, and pays caregivers weekly at $17 or more per hour for the time they’ve provided.
If your caregiver isn’t enrolled in CHAMPS yet, payments can’t begin until their registration is complete. Learn about that process in Understanding the CHAMPS System for the Michigan Home Help Program
Why it’s important to keep your approval letter
The approval letter is more than just a notice, it’s the official record of your eligibility and care plan. It’s needed for:
Annual reassessments
Medicaid reviews
Appeals or corrections
Tax or payment verification
Any future changes to caregivers
Always keep the original letter and a copy. If you misplace it, your ASW can provide another copy upon request.
When to contact MDHHS versus Care Plan Inc.
Contact MDHHS or your Adult Services Worker for questions about:
Hours or eligibility
Reassessments or renewals
Medical documentation
Updating addresses or health information
Contact Care Plan Inc. for questions about:
Weekly pay and direct deposits
Timesheet submissions
CHAMPS registration support
Help understanding your approval letter
Care Plan Inc. partners with Michigan caregivers to make the process simple and reliable.
End-of-year reminder
If you received your approval letter near the end of the year, double-check that your Medicaid remains active for the next term. Many participants renew coverage around the same time their approval letters arrive. Keeping both up to date avoids service interruptions.
If you plan to change caregivers, notify your ASW and Care Plan Inc. early so the transition can happen without affecting pay.
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 caregivers interpret approval letters, stay compliant with program rules, and maintain accurate records.
Once hours are approved, we pay caregivers $17 or more per hour weekly for the time they provide care through the Michigan Home Help Program.
For related reading see:
How to Maintain Your Michigan Home Help Program Eligibility Year Round and How to Renew Your Michigan Home Help Program Approval
Care Plan Inc. helps caregivers across Michigan understand their approval letters, manage paperwork correctly, and stay paid weekly for approved Home Help hours.
Check your eligibility or enter your information through the Contact form for inquiries.