Author: Kailee Curtis

Local Health Department

Children’s Special Health Care Services

Children’s Special Health Care Services is a program that assists with health care for children 20 years or under and some adults with special health care needs. Assistance can include medical bills, transportation for medical care, coordination of services, and connection to community-based resources. The majority of Michigan local health departments provide CSHCS services.

Key Positions
Public Health Nurses
Program Representatives
Clerical Staff

In 2017, over 12,000 children received coverage from MDHHS’s Children’s Special Health Care Services programs

Meets Public Health Standards:

	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
	Public Health Accreditation Board

Services:
Local health departments that participate in the Children’s Special Health Care Services program can assist in finding coverage and referrals for eligible patients specialty services based on the person's health problems. More than 2,700 diagnoses are eligible for CSHCS coverage, including asthma, cancer, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, liver disease, club foot, limb abnormalities, spina bifida, certain vision disorders, paralysis or spinal injuries, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, insulin-dependent diabetes, muscular dystrophy, certain heart conditions, epilepsy, kidney disease, and more. Additionally, those enrolled in Children’s Special Health Care Services will receive assistance in care coordination to pull together the services of many different providers who work within different agencies.

Funding Sources for Michigan Local Health Department CSHCS Programs in FY17
(n = 39 Local Health Departments*)

40

30

Number of Local Health Departments

20

10

0

State grants

Medicaid

Fees

Other grants

Other

Medicare

Donations

Federal grants

Private insurance

Local appropriations

Goals:
Children’s Special Health Care Services conducted by local health departments are meant to:
Assist individuals with special health care needs in accessing appropriate medical care, health education and supports.
Assure delivery of these services and supports in an accessible, family centered, culturally competent, community based and coordinated manner.
Remove barriers that prevent individuals with special health care needs from achieving these goals.

Funding Sources (can be multiple)

Impact: Thousands of children are able to receive the specialty health care services they need to have a higher quality of life. These children and their families are able to seek care without worrying about the financial burden.

Created by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department for the Michigan Association of Local Public Health with funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. August 2018.
*39 of Michigan’s local health departments indicated that they offer CSHCS services (of 41 who participated in the survey). Participants might not have answered each question.