Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
Search Saved

Get ready to apply

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Home Care Children / TEFRA Medicaid

What you get

Medicaid coverage for children with substantial disabilities and care needs who live at home. Parental income is not counted. Ask whether requests are open.

Who starts it
You, with a letter from your doctor
How it’s sent
Fax to 517-335-9491
Your time
About 15 minutes, plus waiting for the letter
Last checked
Aug 27, 2026

  1. Ask your doctor for the letterStart here. This is the part that takes the longest.

    Michigan Department of Health and Human Services needs 3 things from your doctor. It has to cover 5 things. Copy this message, or say it in person at the next visit.

    Hi [doctor’s name],

We’d like to apply to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’s Home Care Children / TEFRA Medicaid. They offer medicaid coverage for children with substantial disabilities and care needs who live at home, and we are checking whether they are taking requests.

They need 3 things from you: a letter, a note confirming the diagnosis, and a note confirming the diagnosis. The letter has to cover diagnoses and impairments, current treatment and medications, functional limitations, institutional level-of-care evidence, and anticipated duration. Their form and instructions are here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/cshcs/home-care-childrens-hcc-tefra-program

Could you write that when you have a chance? I can send you the link, or bring a printout to our next visit. Thank you for everything you do for us.

[your name] · [phone]
    Copying is the only thing this page does with your text. Nothing is saved.

  2. Fill in their applicationIt is on their website.

    Open their application ↗ Checked Aug 27, 2026

    What the form asks for

    They don’t publish the questions in advance. Have your contact details, your child’s diagnosis and date, and the hospital’s name to hand.

    Have ready

    • Completed HCC/TEFRA demographic form from the current official page.
    • Parent-completed 24-hour care plan listing services, supplies, supports, and services being pursued but not yet obtained.
    • Current IEP or IFSP when the child has one.

  3. Fax your application and the letter togetherTo 517-335-9491.

    • Submit the complete initial packet to the local CSHCS office, fax MDHHS CSHCS RE: HCC/TEFRA at 517-335-9491 in transmissions of 60 pages or fewer, or use the mail address on the current page.
    • Keep protected identifiers and all signatures only in official forms and secure attachments.

    Fax: 517-335-9491

After you send

If medically approved, wait for the special Medicaid application and return it to the Special Processing Office specified in that mailing; using a local-office or other Medicaid application can delay the HCC/TEFRA determination. If you have not heard back in two weeks, write and ask whether it arrived.

Full record, as published