Children's Special Health Care Services

Eligibility is determined by medical condition, citizenship, residency and age. There are over 3,500 medical diagnoses that CSHCS may cover which include, but are not limited to: Cerebral Palsy, sensorineural hearing loss, asthma (moderate, persistent, or severe), diabetes, epilepsy, respiratory distress syndrome, certain heart conditions, cleft lip and palate, congenital quadriplegia, anomalies of skull/face bones, cancer…and many more.

CSHCS covers persons under 21; the age limit is waived for individuals with certain blood clotting disorders, cystic fibrosis, or sickle cell disease.

There is a fee to join CSHCS that is based on income and family size. The fee is waived if the individual has Medicaid or MI Child coverage. The local health department can explain what CSHCS is likely to cover to determine if this fee to join will be beneficial.

CSHCS covers services related to the child’s diagnosis. CSHCS may be able to help with:

• Paying specialty medical bills
• Specialized equipment (wheelchairs, orthotics, etc.) 
• Medications 
• Coordination of services and assistance with finding community resources
• Travel and lodging expenses relating to treatment and care
• Covering co-pays and deductibles from private insurance

CSHCS does NOT cover:

• Primary care (family physician or pediatrician visits) 
• Well-child care
• Developmental delays
• Emotional, behavioral, or other mental health diagnosis (like autism and ADHD)
• Incontinence supplies (may be a medicaid benefit)

Contact the CSHCS Team at the Health Department at (989) 832-6673.

You can also call the CSHCS Family Phone Line at 1-800-359-3722.

Click Here to view the CSHCS brochure.

A CSHCS Plan of Care is a client centered plan which allows the CSHCS team and the family to communicate and organize the short and long term goals of the client. As the client's needs are met or a new need is noticed, the Plan of Care is updated.

Our goal is for each of our clients/families to have a yearly visit with one of our nurses or social worker. This meeting will be an opportunity to:

• Review your child’s medical, educational, social and transitional needs
• Provide updates on the benefits available to your child as well as your family
• Discuss any needs your child may have in regards to obtaining medical supplies, medications, therapies, transportation assistance and mileage reimbursement
• Discuss any needs your family has and assist in locating resources.

CSHCS can cover eligible individuals until the day before their 21st birthday (with the exception of persons with certain blood clotting disorders, cystic fibrosis, or sickle cell disease).

A CSHCS nurse or social worker will help you and your child through the transition process. If you have not had a Plan of Care with your nurse or social worker within 6 months of turning 18 or 21, please call to schedule so we can better assist with any questions or concerns you may have regarding this transition. 

Additional information can be found using the links below:

CSHCS Transition Guide

GotTransition.org