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

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Nebraska program

State help for a child with a serious illness (MHCP)

Nebraska’s program for children with serious health conditions, including leukemia and lymphoma (MHCP).

What it is

Nebraska’s program for children with serious health conditions, including leukemia and lymphoma (MHCP).

The Medically Handicapped Children’s Program offers care coordination and approved specialist treatment. Its condition list includes neoplasms, including leukemia and lymphoma. Income above the reference line does not automatically rule a child out.

Eligibility rules
  • Children from birth through age 20 who live in Nebraska can be assessed for an eligible condition.
  • The May 1, 2026 reference is 185% of poverty: $4,212 a month for three people or $5,088 for four.
  • Above $4,212 a month for three people, the family pays a share equal to a quarter of the income over that line each year, after premiums and child care are deducted. Unpaid medical bills and treatment travel reduce the share.
What you get
  • A care coordinator and specialist team evaluations.
  • Payment for approved specialized treatment of the eligible condition.
  • No savings limit.
What the help covers
  • Treatment must relate to the eligible condition and receive prior approval. The program also offers access to specialty physicians.
  • Projected travel and lodging at state employee rates can reduce the financial-margin calculation. That deduction is different from a direct travel payment.
  • MHCP coordinates with other coverage, including a specific Medicaid Share of Cost arrangement. The coordinator can check whether it adds help without paying the same bill twice, and whether any direct travel payment is available.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask the MHCP team about a referral, or refer your child yourself.
  2. Have the diagnosis, the treating hospital and your household income ready; a parent or the doctor can send the referral.

Nebraska DHHS, Medically Handicapped Children's Program · 402-471-5379 · Official page ↗

After you apply
  • An approval identifies a coordinator and the treatment approved for payment.
  • The family normally has 30 days after DHHS mails the forms to return a complete application; that is not a promise of a decision in 30 days. MHCP can explain referral urgency, treatment approval and the expected decision date. Its financial review considers specified income deductions and offsets for qualifying bills, treatment travel and sibling care before setting the family’s margin.
  • Emergency referrals have a separate five-day deadline from hospital admission. Non-emergency out-of-state treatment needs prior approval. MHCP can explain which timing rule applies to your child.
Good to know

Above the income reference, the family pays a calculated share before MHCP pays. This is not a hard income cutoff.

Other details
  • A parent, guardian, agency or physician can refer. The MHCP office also accepts questions at dhhs.mhcp@nebraska.gov.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could MHCP help with our child’s specialist care? How would it work with insurance and any family share, and could you help us decide whether to make a referral?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand whether this program adds support or reduces costs beyond our health insurance.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Refer your own child, send the application, and ask what the financial margin would be.

Your social worker

The oncology team can send the referral form and the diagnosis.

The care team

A physician can refer directly.

Who decides
Nebraska DHHS's Medically Handicapped Children's Program.
Ask the agency
“My child has acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is on your eligible condition list. I would like to refer my child to the Medically Handicapped Children's Program.”

How to apply

First step: Call 402-471-5379 or email dhhs.mhcp@nebraska.gov. You can refer your own child.

  1. Call 402-471-5379 or email dhhs.mhcp@nebraska.gov this week: you can refer your own child.
  2. Ask for the service coordinator by name.
  3. If you are over the income reference, ask what your financial margin would be before deciding.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: A parent, guardian, agency or physician can refer. Use the application (item 3702) or the referral form (item 3786), or call 402-471-5379 or email dhhs.mhcp@nebraska.gov.

What to gather

  • The diagnosis and the treating hospital
  • Household income

How long: Days from referral to approval were not published. Ask for a date.

What a yes looks like

A named service coordinator and a letter about authorised treatment.

What a no looks like, and the next move

If income was the reason, ask for the financial margin figure instead of accepting a refusal.

Watch out

  • The income figure is a reference, not a cutoff: above it you pay a margin, you are not refused.
  • There is no savings limit at all.
  • Whether a child already on Medicaid can also use it was not published: ask.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Care coordination and payment for prior-authorised specialised treatment. The income reference for four people is $5,088 a month, and there is no savings limit.

  • $5,088/month — Household of 4, monthly income reference
  • $4,212/month — Household of 3, monthly income reference
  • $25 — Financial margin above the income requirement
  • $20 — Oldest age served

Covers: Service coordination and case management · Specialty medical team evaluations · Access to specialty physicians · Payment of prior-authorised specialised treatment for the eligible condition

Legal protection: No resource limit

What it costs the family: A financial-margin calculation applies above the adjusted-income standard. Qualifying medical bills, treatment travel, lodging and sibling care can reduce the 25%-of-excess margin.

The eligibility facts, as published

Age
birth through 20
Age max exclusive
21
Income
185% of the poverty line as a reference; above it a 25% annual financial margin applies instead of a refusal
Other
no resource limit
Residency
Nebraska
Processing standard
unknown: days from referral to approval were not published

Decisions this site cannot make: A diagnosis on the programme list · An income and financial-margin calculation

Expect friction on: Treatment has to be prior authorised, and whether a child already on Medicaid can also use it was not published

The trap: MHCP first applies its income exclusions and deductions, including qualifying support, child care, education costs and medical-insurance premiums. The annual financial margin is 25% of income above the standard after those adjustments. Qualifying unpaid medical bills and projected treatment travel, lodging and sibling care can then reduce that margin.

Where I read this

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