REGION– Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD) is promoting Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS), a secondary insurance program that helps those who have long-term health problems. Even if the patient already has health insurance, they can still get help from CSHCS. The program also helps adults with cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and bleeding disorders.
CSHCS helps pay for medical costs that other insurance doesn’t cover, related to the patient’s health problem. Some health issues that are covered include diabetes, heart conditions, kidney disease, birth defects, cystic fibrosis, cleft palate/lip, cancer, and many more. There are over 2,700 conditions that qualify someone for this program.
“Children’s Special Health Care Services is a program that helps many families in our community,” said Stefani Larson, CMDHD Personal and Family Health Supervisor. “Our staff is dedicated to improving our CSHCS patients’ health and well-being.”
In addition to serving patients, our staff teaches healthcare providers and the community about CSHCS, so everyone understands how the program works and how it can help. There are no income limits to join the program, but some families with higher incomes might pay a co-pay or use a payment plan. CMDHD staff members help patients apply for CSHCS after a diagnosis with a qualifying condition. Once approved by a doctor at the state CSHCS office, our staff helps with resources for medical support, transportation, billing issues, and overnight stays for treatment.
CMDHD can also help patients deal with insurance companies to get necessary medical care approved.
They can help get other important items like wheelchair ramps or air conditioners if insurance doesn’t cover them. Once a patient is enrolled, the local office staff can help with:
• Getting money back for travel and lodging when visiting doctors out of town.
• Finding specialty doctors, hospitals, and services for the patient’s condition.
• Services for children with special needs not covered by other programs.
• Care coordination, support groups, and community-based services.
• Finding resources specific to the family’s needs.
• Education about the patient’s medical condition.
• Planning the transition from child to adult health care.
CSHCS is run by the State of Michigan, with representatives in each local health department. For more
information, please visit www.michigan.gov/cshcs or call the CSHCS Family Center at 1-800-359-3722 or CMDHD at 989- 314-7570.
This article has been brought to you by Central Michigan District Health Department, which serves the counties of Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon. Visit our website at www.cmdhd.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
