Maryland Department of Health
Children’s Medical Services Program · About this organization
What you get
Help with hospitalizations, laboratory work, medical equipment and supplies, medications, specialist visits, surgeries, therapies and x-rays.
How to start
Speak with the treating provider to submit service information needed for review.
Good to know
- Several routine and nonmedical services are excluded.
- The illness must require specialty care and satisfy current CMS review.
The details, as published
Maryland’s Children’s Medical Services Program pays for certain needed specialty services for low-income Maryland residents ages 0–21 who are uninsured or underinsured and receive specialty care for a chronic illness or disability. Covered examples include specialist visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, therapies, laboratory work, x-rays, and medical equipment or supplies, while routine, emergency, dental, mental-health, and transportation services are excluded. A parent, guardian, or care team should contact CMS about the application and obtain preauthorization at least 10 business days before the service.
What help you may get
Household Bills And Cash Assistance
Children’s Medical Services Program — household bills and cash assistance
Maryland’s Children’s Medical Services Program pays for certain needed specialty services for low-income Maryland residents ages 0–21 who are uninsured or underinsured and receive specialty care for a chronic illness or disability. Covered examples include specialist visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, therapies, laboratory work, x-rays, and medical equipment or supplies, while routine, emergency, dental, mental-health, and transportation services are excluded. A parent, guardian, or care team should contact CMS about the application and obtain preauthorization at least 10 business days before the service.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Hospitalizations
- Laboratory work
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Medications
- Specialist visits
- Surgeries
- Therapies
- X-rays
Does not cover
- Emergency services
- Mental-health services
- Routine check-ups or immunizations
- Routine dental care
- Sick visits
- Transportation
- CMS pays for some needed services after preauthorization; no individual dollar ceiling is published.
- Coverage is tied to preauthorized services.
Medical And Insurance Costs
Children’s Medical Services Program — medical and insurance costs
Maryland’s Children’s Medical Services Program pays for certain needed specialty services for low-income Maryland residents ages 0–21 who are uninsured or underinsured and receive specialty care for a chronic illness or disability. Covered examples include specialist visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, therapies, laboratory work, x-rays, and medical equipment or supplies, while routine, emergency, dental, mental-health, and transportation services are excluded. A parent, guardian, or care team should contact CMS about the application and obtain preauthorization at least 10 business days before the service.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Hospitalizations
- Laboratory work
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Medications
- Specialist visits
- Surgeries
- Therapies
- X-rays
Does not cover
- Emergency services
- Mental-health services
- Routine check-ups or immunizations
- Routine dental care
- Sick visits
- Transportation
- CMS pays for some needed services after preauthorization; no individual dollar ceiling is published.
- Coverage is tied to preauthorized services.
- The published monetary limit is shared across the listed benefit components.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. B-ALL can fall within the program-specific chronic-illness specialty-care scope for a Maryland patient age 0–18 when all financial and insurance rules are met.
Age
Age 0 to age 21, measured at application.
- The official page states ages 0–21 years.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- All CMS-funded services must be preauthorized.
- The patient must be uninsured or underinsured.
Financial need is required.
- The page states “low-income” but does not publish a numerical ceiling.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: MD.
- The child or youth must be a Maryland resident.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
Who can start: Parent Or Guardian, Patient
- Ask the treating provider to submit service information needed for review.
- Ask the treating provider to use the separate provider portal for service information and preauthorization.
- Contact CMS to request current application and eligibility instructions.
- Create or use the CMS patient portal and submit the current family application.
- Obtain CMS preauthorization at least 10 business days before the service.
- Provide the medical, insurance, and financial information requested by CMS.
- Provide the medical, insurance, and financial information requested in the portal.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
The program does not publish a document checklist. Ask before gathering paperwork.
- CMS pays for approved, preauthorized services under its program rules.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
- The current official page announces live patient and provider portals and active preauthorization processing.
- Services must be preauthorized.
- CMS requires at least 10 business days to process preauthorization before the service.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Every funded service needs advance preauthorization.
- Maryland residence, ages 0–21, low income, and uninsured or underinsured status are required.
- Several routine and nonmedical services are excluded.
- The illness must require specialty care and satisfy current CMS review.
- What appeal rights and secondary-insurance coordination rules apply?
- What numerical income limit and income documents apply to this household?
- Which application forms and medical records are currently required?
- Will CMS preauthorize the child’s specific B-ALL service or medication?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- CMS Patient Portal · checked Aug 27, 2026
- CMS Go-Live Notice - Patients · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Children’s Medical Services Program — Maryland Department of Health · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Children’s Medical Services Program — Maryland Department of Health · checked Aug 23, 2026