Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Medically Handicapped Children’s Program · About this organization
What you get
Specialty-care coordination and payment for approved medical services related to your child's condition.
How to start
Fill in the application with household, insurance, income, and specialist details. Work with the specialist on a treatment plan.
Good to know
- Services must relate to the eligible diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Specialty treatment must be prior authorized.
The details, as published
Nebraska’s Medically Handicapped Children’s Program coordinates specialty care and pays authorized medical services for eligible residents from birth through age 20. The official program page expressly includes neoplasms such as leukemia and lymphoma, so pediatric B-ALL is within the published diagnosis scope. Treatment funding is limited to prior-authorized specialty care connected to the eligible diagnosis and an active individual medical treatment plan, while routine general medical care is excluded. A family may apply at any time by email, fax, mail, or through a Nebraska DHHS office.
What help you may get
Household Bills And Cash Assistance
Medically Handicapped Children’s Program — household bills and cash assistance
Nebraska’s Medically Handicapped Children’s Program coordinates specialty care and pays authorized medical services for eligible residents from birth through age 20. The official program page expressly includes neoplasms such as leukemia and lymphoma, so pediatric B-ALL is within the published diagnosis scope. Treatment funding is limited to prior-authorized specialty care connected to the eligible diagnosis and an active individual medical treatment plan, while routine general medical care is excluded. A family may apply at any time by email, fax, mail, or through a Nebraska DHHS office.
Amount decided by the program · As Needed
Can cover
- Access to contracted specialists and specialty clinics
- Prior-authorized leukemia treatment under the individual medical treatment plan
- Service coordination and case management
- Specialty diagnostic and consultative evaluations
Does not cover
- Care unrelated to the eligible diagnosis or treatment plan
- Routine general medical care
- Services outside current program priorities or funding capacity
- Treatment not prior authorized
- No family-facing aggregate dollar maximum is published.
- Payment depends on the prior-authorized services, treatment plan, other coverage, and available funding.
- Benefits follow authorized specialty services and ongoing case management rather than a single award.
Medical And Insurance Costs
Medically Handicapped Children’s Program — medical and insurance costs
Nebraska’s Medically Handicapped Children’s Program coordinates specialty care and pays authorized medical services for eligible residents from birth through age 20. The official program page expressly includes neoplasms such as leukemia and lymphoma, so pediatric B-ALL is within the published diagnosis scope. Treatment funding is limited to prior-authorized specialty care connected to the eligible diagnosis and an active individual medical treatment plan, while routine general medical care is excluded. A family may apply at any time by email, fax, mail, or through a Nebraska DHHS office.
Amount decided by the program · As Needed
Can cover
- Access to contracted specialists and specialty clinics
- Prior-authorized leukemia treatment under the individual medical treatment plan
- Service coordination and case management
- Specialty diagnostic and consultative evaluations
Does not cover
- Care unrelated to the eligible diagnosis or treatment plan
- Routine general medical care
- Services outside current program priorities or funding capacity
- Treatment not prior authorized
- No family-facing aggregate dollar maximum is published.
- Payment depends on the prior-authorized services, treatment plan, other coverage, and available funding.
- Benefits follow authorized specialty services and ongoing case management rather than a single award.
Navigation Guides And Advocacy
Medically Handicapped Children’s Program — navigation guides and advocacy
Nebraska’s Medically Handicapped Children’s Program coordinates specialty care and pays authorized medical services for eligible residents from birth through age 20. The official program page expressly includes neoplasms such as leukemia and lymphoma, so pediatric B-ALL is within the published diagnosis scope. Treatment funding is limited to prior-authorized specialty care connected to the eligible diagnosis and an active individual medical treatment plan, while routine general medical care is excluded. A family may apply at any time by email, fax, mail, or through a Nebraska DHHS office.
Amount decided by the program · As Needed
Can cover
- Access to contracted specialists and specialty clinics
- Prior-authorized leukemia treatment under the individual medical treatment plan
- Service coordination and case management
- Specialty diagnostic and consultative evaluations
Does not cover
- Care unrelated to the eligible diagnosis or treatment plan
- Routine general medical care
- Services outside current program priorities or funding capacity
- Treatment not prior authorized
- No family-facing aggregate dollar maximum is published.
- Payment depends on the prior-authorized services, treatment plan, other coverage, and available funding.
- Benefits follow authorized specialty services and ongoing case management rather than a single award.
- The published monetary limit is shared across the listed benefit components.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. The official program page expressly lists neoplasms including leukemia and lymphoma and covers Nebraska residents from birth through age 20.
Age
Age 0 to age 20.
- The official program page states birth through age 20.
Treatment status
Active Treatment
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- A contracted specialist or specialty clinic establishes the treatment plan.
- Treatment services require prior authorization.
- The application requests evidence that the applicant is a United States citizen or qualified alien under program rules.
- Applicants must report current health-insurance coverage.
Financial need is required.
- A family above the guideline may be assigned an annual financial margin rather than automatically excluded.
- Allowed deductions include health, dental, and vision premiums; qualifying family medical expenses; support payments; certain childcare; and qualifying tuition and books.
- Household income under Nebraska MHCP rules after allowable deductions.
- The May 2026 table is based on 185% FPL.
- Financial-margin deductions may include unpaid medical bills, projected travel and lodging, and sibling childcare needed during care.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: NE.
- The child or young adult must be a Nebraska resident.
Where your child is treated
Treatment must be connected to: An active individual medical treatment plan must be developed through a contracted specialist or specialty clinic.; Treatment must be prior authorized through the program..
- An active individual medical treatment plan must be developed through a contracted specialist or specialty clinic.
- Treatment must be prior authorized through the program.
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: Caregiver, Healthcare Team, Parent Or Guardian, Patient
- Complete the medical-deductions worksheet if claiming deductions.
- Complete the Medically Handicapped Children’s Program application.
- Obtain prior authorization before treatment services are furnished.
- Provide the household, income, citizenship or qualified-alien, insurance, diagnosis, and specialist information requested.
- Submit the application by email, fax, mail, or through a Nebraska DHHS office.
- Work with a contracted specialist or clinic to establish an individual medical treatment plan.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page
- Online Portal · Open form or page
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
- Citizenship or qualified-alien information
- Complete IRS Form 1040 for self-employment income
- Completed program application
- Diagnosis, specialist, and treatment-plan information
- Health-insurance information
- Income verification requested by the program
- Medical-deductions worksheet when claiming deductions
- Signed authorization or release requested by the program
- A contracted specialist or clinic develops the treatment plan.
- Authorized providers bill the program under its payment rules.
- Nebraska DHHS determines medical and financial eligibility.
- Treatment requires prior authorization.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Fund Dependent |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
- Official guidance allows DHHS to establish service priorities based on available funding.
- The current program page accepts applications at any time and publishes an application and regional contacts.
- The official page says a family may apply at any time.
- The guidance references returning forms within 30 days after they are mailed; a family using the downloadable form should confirm whether that deadline applies.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Current leukemia-service limits and provider availability are not fully published.
- Routine general medical care is excluded.
- Services must relate to the eligible diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Specialty treatment must be prior authorized.
- The Department may alter priorities or components based on funding.
- Can any treatment expenses incurred before authorization be covered?
- Does the 30-day form-return requirement apply to a self-downloaded application?
- How does the program coordinate benefits with Medicaid or private insurance?
- How long do eligibility, treatment-plan, and prior-authorization decisions usually take?
- What funding priorities or capacity limits are currently in effect?
- Which leukemia-related services, medicines, tests, equipment, and treatment settings are currently authorized?
- Which pediatric oncology specialists and clinics currently contract with the program?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Medically Handicapped Children’s Program Application · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Medically Handicapped Children’s Program Application · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Medically Handicapped Children’s Program Medical Deductions Worksheet · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Medically Handicapped Children’s Program Medical Deductions Worksheet · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Medically Handicapped Children’s Program Guidance Document · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Medically Handicapped Children’s Program Guidance Document · checked Aug 23, 2026
- MHCP Income and Resources · checked Aug 24, 2026
- MHCP Income and Resources · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Medically Handicapped Children’s Program · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Medically Handicapped Children’s Program · checked Aug 23, 2026