Michigan Medicaid waiver guide
Learn how Michigan Medicaid waiver services work, which state agency to start with, how the application process usually begins, and where to search for home and community-based services.
Last reviewed July 2026. See something out of date? Use the “Suggest an edit” button to let us know.
Michigan runs its developmental disability waivers through a two-layer structure that trips people up: MDHHS holds the waivers, regional prepaid inpatient health plans (PIHPs) manage them, and your local Community Mental Health Services Program (CMHSP) is where you actually go. There are two main programs — the Children's Waiver Program for children under 18, and the Habilitation Supports Waiver for people of any age who meet an institutional level of care. The Children's Waiver has a feature worth knowing before anything else: it treats the child as a family of one, so parental income is not counted.
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People with intellectual or developmental disabilities who meet an institutional level of care
Children with a developmental disability needing daily medical or behavioral support at home — parental income not counted
The Habilitation Supports Waiver serves people with intellectual or developmental disabilities from age 0 and up who meet an institutional level of care. The Children's Waiver Program serves children under 18 who have a documented developmental disability and need medical or behavioral supports at home on a consistent daily basis, meeting the level of care for an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID). For the Children's Waiver, Michigan received federal approval to waive parental deeming — only the child's own income and assets count.
Both programs require a documented intellectual or developmental disability and a finding that you meet an institutional level of care — for the Children's Waiver, specifically the ICF/IID standard.
For the CWP, the child must have behavioral or medical and habilitative needs at home on a consistent daily basis. Occasional or intermittent need is generally not enough.
Michigan received federal approval to waive parental deeming for the Children's Waiver Program. The child is treated as a family of one, so only the child's own income and assets are considered for Medicaid financial eligibility.
The HSW operates with a limited number of slots allocated across PIHPs. Meeting eligibility does not guarantee immediate enrollment if the regional plan has no capacity.
Habilitation Supports Waiver slots are allocated to regional PIHPs, and PIHPs report monthly to MDHHS on anyone waiting for enrollment because no slot is available. MDHHS then reallocates slots toward people who need enrollment where their PIHP has none — so capacity is not permanently stuck in one region. Michigan also defines who goes first.
Michigan's entry point is the Community Mental Health Services Program in your county of residence. For the Children's Waiver, ask specifically for an assessment for a CWP prescreen.
Open linkThe Children's Waiver Program treats the child as a family of one, so parental income and assets are not counted. Families who assume they earn too much for Medicaid routinely qualify through this route — ask about it by name.
Open linkYou must be found to meet an institutional level of care — for the CWP, the ICF/IID standard, with daily behavioral or medical and habilitative need at home.
Children disenroll from the CWP at the end of their 18th birthday month, and those beneficiaries are the highest priority group for Habilitation Supports Waiver entry. Start the HSW conversation with your CMHSP a year ahead so the handoff is arranged rather than improvised.
PIHPs report monthly to MDHHS on people waiting for HSW enrollment due to lack of slots, and MDHHS reallocates capacity based on that. Confirm with your CMHSP that you are on that report.
Exact covered services depend on the waiver, assessed need, Medicaid rules, funding, and state program requirements. Confirm services, availability, and payment acceptance with the state, support coordinator, and provider.
Michigan supports self-determination arrangements, letting participants and families control an individual budget and choose and manage their own workers rather than relying only on agency staff. Ask your CMHSP supports coordinator about self-determination specifically — it is an option you have to request.
Approved waiver services are paid by Michigan Medicaid. Once enrolled, there is generally little or no direct cost for covered services.
For the Children's Waiver Program, Michigan waived parental deeming, so only the child's income and assets are considered. This is the single most common reason a Michigan family who assumed they were over the limit turns out to qualify.
HSW slots are allocated by region. If your PIHP has no capacity, that affects when you enroll rather than what you pay — and MDHHS reallocates slots based on reported need.
Michigan's Early On program provides early intervention for infants and toddlers, separately from the waivers.
The CWP serves children under 18 with daily medical or behavioral support needs at home, with parental income excluded from the Medicaid determination.
Children disenroll from the CWP at the end of the month in which they turn 18. Those beneficiaries hold the highest priority for Habilitation Supports Waiver entry, but the transition still has to be set up. Raise it with your CMHSP a year ahead.
People 21 and older who require Private Duty Nursing and meet the other HSW requirements are the second stated priority group for waiver entry. If that describes the person, say so explicitly when applying.
If eligibility or a waiver service is denied, reduced, or ended, you have the right to appeal and to request a Medicaid fair hearing within the deadline printed on your notice. Because services run through a PIHP, there is usually a plan-level grievance and appeal process as well — ask for both in writing. Disability Rights Michigan is the state's designated protection and advocacy agency, with advocates available weekdays 9am–4pm.
Protection & Advocacy agency for Michigan
1-800-288-5923Visit siteMichigan's entry point — assessments, prescreens, and supports coordination
Visit siteHSW program information and amendments
Visit siteCWP eligibility, including the family-of-one financial rule
Visit siteFree advocacy and appeals help — weekdays 9am–4pm
1-800-288-5923Visit siteLocal help & referrals — dial 211
Visit siteVery possibly. Michigan received federal approval to waive parental deeming for the Children's Waiver Program, so the child is treated as a family of one and only the child's own income and assets count. This is the most common reason a Michigan family wrongly assumes it is ineligible.
Children disenroll from the Children's Waiver Program at the end of their 18th birthday month. Those beneficiaries are the highest priority group for entering the Habilitation Supports Waiver — but the transition still has to be arranged. Start the conversation with your CMHSP about a year out.
Your county's Community Mental Health Services Program. MDHHS holds the waivers and regional PIHPs manage them, but the CMHSP is where families start. For the Children's Waiver, ask for an assessment for a CWP prescreen.
Not necessarily. PIHPs report monthly to MDHHS on people waiting because no slot is available, and MDHHS reallocates slots toward regions with unmet need. Ask your CMHSP to confirm you are included in that monthly report.
Two groups: children disenrolling from the CWP at the end of their 18th birthday month, and people 21 and older who require Private Duty Nursing and meet all other HSW requirements. If either applies to you, make sure it is stated clearly in your application.
The Habilitation Supports Waiver serves people with intellectual or developmental disabilities from age 0 and up who meet an institutional level of care. The Children's Waiver Program serves children under 18 who have a documented developmental disability and need medical or behavioral supports at home on a consistent daily basis, meeting the level of care for an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID). For the Children's Waiver, Michigan received federal approval to waive parental deeming — only the child's own income and assets count.
contact your county cmhsp, for a child, ask about the family-of-one rule, complete the level of care assessment, plan the 18th birthday well in advance, then enroll and choose providers. Start with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Covered services vary by waiver and assessed need, and commonly include in-home supports, respite, supported employment, day services, behavior support, residential supports. Confirm specifics with the state and provider.
Habilitation Supports Waiver slots are allocated to regional PIHPs, and PIHPs report monthly to MDHHS on anyone waiting for enrollment because no slot is available. MDHHS then reallocates slots toward people who need enrollment where their PIHP has none — so capacity is not permanently stuck in one region. Michigan also defines who goes first.
Approved waiver services are generally covered by Medicaid at little or no direct cost once enrolled, though some enrollees may owe a monthly patient responsibility based on income.
MDHHS's overview of the behavioral health and developmental disability waivers.
MichiganHSW eligibility, program information, and the 2026 amendment.
MichiganCWP eligibility, the daily-need standard, and the family-of-one financial rule.
MichiganFree protection and advocacy services, including appeals help.
MichiganFind waiver providers and services in Michigan on Waiverly.
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