Most guides about the Michigan Home Help Program cover the basics and call it a day. You check eligibility. You call MDHHS. Done.
But that's not what actually happens. There are nine distinct steps between "I think we might qualify" and "the caregiver got paid." Miss one, or do one out of order, and the whole process stalls — sometimes for weeks.
This guide walks through every step. Real detail. No fluff. So your family can move through this process without hitting avoidable roadblocks.
What Is the Michigan Home Help Program?
The Michigan Home Help Program is a Medicaid-funded benefit administered by MDHHS. It pays a family member or trusted person to provide in-home care for a qualifying adult who needs help with daily activities — things like bathing, dressing, meals, and getting around the home.
The caregiver gets paid. The person receiving care stays home with someone they trust. Medicaid covers the cost.
Caregivers enrolled through Home Help Navigators earn $18/hour as of January 1, 2026.
Here's how to access it.
Step 1: Check Medicaid Eligibility on MI Bridges
Before anything else, confirm that the person who needs care (the "client") is enrolled in Michigan Medicaid. The Home Help Program is a Medicaid benefit — no Medicaid, no Home Help.
How to check: Go to MI Bridges and either log in to an existing account or create one.
If they're not yet on Medicaid: Apply through MI Bridges. You'll need proof of identity, Michigan residency, and income.
Common delay here: People apply for Medicaid and then wait without following up. MDHHS has up to 45 days to process. If you don't hear anything in two weeks, call your local MDHHS office and ask for a status update.
Step 2: Contact Your MDHHS Adult Services Worker
Once Medicaid is confirmed, call your local MDHHS office and ask to speak with an Adult Services Worker. Tell them: "My family member is on Medicaid and we'd like to apply for the Home Help Program."
They'll open a case and schedule an in-home assessment.
Don't have a caseworker yet? Find your local MDHHS office at michigan.gov/mdhhs or call 1-855-275-6424.
Common delay here: Adult Services Workers carry large caseloads. If you leave a voicemail and don't hear back in 3–5 business days, call again. Be persistent.
What to Expect After Your Referral — The Official Timeline
Here's exactly what to expect and when — so there are no surprises:
- Referral entered into MiAIMS — MDHHS receives and logs your referral into the Michigan Adult Intake and Management System.
- Adult Services Worker (ASW) assigned — An ASW is assigned to your case.
- Introduction letter + forms mailed — The ASW mails you an introduction letter along with the DHS-390 and MDHHS-6200 forms.
- 21-day documentation window — You have 21 calendar days to return any missing documentation.
- In-person home assessment — The ASW visits your home to assess care needs and determine authorized hours.
- Eligibility determined within 45 days — MDHHS must determine eligibility within 45 calendar days of receiving the referral. This is a legally required deadline.
- MSA-4676 Services Agreement signed — If approved, this agreement is signed before any payments begin.
Key deadline: If you're approaching the 45-day mark and haven't heard back, contact your ASW directly for a status update.
Step 3: The In-Home Assessment
An MDHHS worker will come to the client's home to assess what services they need. This assessment determines how many hours of care are authorized each month.
What they assess: Activities of daily living (ADLs) — bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, mobility, and toileting. Also instrumental activities (IADLs) like meal prep and medication management.
What to bring: Medical records, doctor's notes documenting the person's condition and functional limitations, and a list of current medications.
Key form: MSA-4676 — the Home Help Program Service Authorization you'll receive after the assessment.
What to say: Be honest and specific. If your mother needs 20 minutes to get dressed because of her arthritis and gets exhausted doing it, say that. The number of authorized hours is based on what's documented here.
Step 4: Choose Your Service Delivery Model
After the assessment, choose how services are delivered:
Agency Provider Model: Work with a licensed agency (like Home Help Navigators). The agency handles CHAMPS enrollment, EVV setup, billing, and compliance. The family member is still the caregiver — the agency manages the administrative side. Recommended for most families.
Consumer-Directed Model: The recipient or their representative manages caregiver enrollment, timekeeping, and billing themselves. Gives more control but requires significantly more effort.
Step 5: CHAMPS Caregiver Enrollment
Before the caregiver can be paid, they must be enrolled in CHAMPS — Michigan's Medicaid provider enrollment system. This is the most common place families get stuck.
CHAMPS enrollment involves:
- Creating an account at milogintp.michigan.gov
- Submitting an Individual Provider Enrollment application
- Completing a criminal history screening (conducted by MDHHS Provider Enrollment unit through CHAMPS)
- Signing the MDHHS Provider Agreement
- Receiving an approved provider number
How long it takes: 2–6 weeks when done correctly. Errors cause significant delays.
Common errors: Incorrect Social Security number, wrong provider type selected, incomplete fields, missing signatures.
This is exactly what Home Help Navigators specializes in — we complete CHAMPS enrollment and make sure it's done right.
Step 6: EVV Setup (HHAeXchange)
Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) is a federal requirement for all Home Help services. Every care visit must be logged with start time, end time, caregiver identity, and location. Michigan uses HHAeXchange for EVV.
How it works: The caregiver checks in at the start of each visit using the HHAeXchange app, then checks out when the visit ends. That data becomes the basis for billing.
Critical: Caregivers who don't use EVV correctly will not be paid for those visits. Get HHAeXchange set up before the first visit, not after. HHN sets this up for every caregiver we work with.
Step 7: First Timesheet and Payment
Once EVV is running and billing is submitted, payment flows through ASAP (Adult Services Authorization and Payment) — the state's payment processing system.
First payment timing: Typically 2–4 weeks after the first billing cycle is submitted. After that, payments come in on a regular cycle as long as EVV is done correctly.
Direct deposit available — set this up early so you're not waiting on checks.
Common Delays — and How to Avoid Them
| Problem | Fix | |---|---| | MDHHS doesn't call back | Follow up in 3–5 business days, every time | | Assessment underestimates needs | Prepare the client to be specific about limitations | | CHAMPS application errors | Use HHN's help — we'll walk through it step by step | | EVV not set up before first visit | Set up HHAeXchange before care begins | | Slow first payment | Confirm all enrollment and billing submitted on time |
Every delay means weeks longer before the caregiver gets paid.
What to Do If the Process Stalls
- Call your MDHHS Adult Services Worker directly
- Ask for a status update
- Contact Home Help Navigators — we know exactly where things typically stall
We Handle the Application for You
When you work with Home Help Navigators, we verify eligibility, prepare you for the MDHHS assessment, complete CHAMPS enrollment, set up EVV, and handle all billing. There's no cost to families — we're compensated as an agency provider through MDHHS.
Ready to get started? Check your eligibility or schedule a free call.
Related: Michigan Home Help Program Complete Guide · Pay Rates 2026 · What to Expect at Your MDHHS Assessment
Edward Beyne
Founder of Home Help Navigators. Michigan native, combat veteran, and Michigan Home Help Program specialist.