Research-based planning guide
Michigan Home Help: asking for a reassessment when care needs change
If a Michigan Home Help participant needs more or different assistance, contact their MDHHS adult services worker and describe the change. Ask whether a reassessment or updated documentation is needed. Extra caregiving time isn't automatically approved or payable because a family has started providing it.
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The MDHHS Home Help client handbook tells participants to report changes and says the worker will provide written information when a reported change increases or decreases services.
Describe the task that changed
“Mom needs more help” leaves the worker with several unanswered questions. Instead, record the activity, the help now required, when the change began and how often it occurs. Be accurate about what the participant can still do independently.
Use a brief change log:
| Record | Example of the detail to collect |
|---|---|
| Activity | Bathing, dressing or another specific daily task |
| Previous assistance | What help was needed before the change |
| Current assistance | What the caregiver now does differently |
| Frequency | When the task occurs, without inventing a standard allowance |
| Supporting information | Relevant discharge instructions or clinician documentation |
These are suggested notes, not an official assessment tool. MDHHS decides what documentation and assessment are required.
Contact the worker before assuming payment changes
Ask how to submit the information securely. Keep a record of the date you contacted the worker and the response. Avoid sending Social Security numbers or detailed medical records through an ordinary website inquiry form.
Useful questions include:
- Does this change require a new assessment or medical documentation?
- Which tasks and service dates remain authorized while the request is reviewed?
- How will we receive the decision and any new effective date?
- If the decision differs from our request, where are the review instructions?
An increase is not guaranteed. A reassessment can also identify changes that reduce or end an existing service.
Check the written result against the care plan
Once a notice arrives, compare the approved tasks, amounts and dates with the information you provided. Ask the worker about unclear entries. Don't turn a verbal conversation into an assumed authorization or record work as an approved service without confirming the rules.
If you disagree, use the instructions and deadlines in the actual notice. CarePay's appeal overview can help you organize questions, but it doesn't replace the notice or MDHHS guidance.
For background, read what an assessment involves and the official Home Help program information. You can also use CarePay's application guidance to understand the site's support options. CarePay is an independent resource; it cannot approve hours or promise payment.