Seeking Expertise: Medicaid & CMH Approval Challenges in Macomb County

[Misty Delegato]

Hello everyone,

I’m reaching out to this group to see if anyone has experience or expertise navigating Medicaid approval issues with MDHHS in Macomb County, particularly when there are also Community Mental Health (CMH) services involved.

 

We are experiencing ongoing delays and barriers with Medicaid approval despite providing requested documentation, and this is now impacting the ability to move forward with CMH eligibility and services. I’m hoping to connect with anyone who has successfully navigated a similar situation, understands current DHHS processes, or has insights into effective escalation strategies or contacts.

 

If you’ve encountered this recently, worked closely with DHHS/CMH on complex cases, or have recommendations on how best to move this forward, I would be incredibly grateful to hear from you — either via reply or privately.

 

Thank you in advance for any guidance or direction you may be able to share. This group is always such a valuable resource.

 

I can be reached at 586-246-6516.

 

 

 

Misty Delegato Chief Care Champion 586-493-7677  mdel...@relevar.com   Servicing the Metro-Detroit  Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, & St. Clair   www.relevar.com   www.alivitycare.com   Check out our 5 Star Reviews   Looking for FREE CEU’s FREE CEU's

 

 

 

[Candela, Kathryn]

Happy New Year to all!

 

Misty, thank you for sharing this with the group!  I experienced this with several patients last year in trying to help them get through the Medicaid application process. I did not think to put it out there to this group but am grateful that you thought to do so.

 

Any insight as to how to move cases forward, even to just find out what is still needed would be so very helpful. I work at Karmanos Cancer Institute and when an application is delayed and there is no one to speak with as to what the barriers might be, (i.e., further required documentation, missing documentation, etc.) patients’ treatments have been delayed, sometimes for significant periods.

 

I did not have much luck in navigating these cases successfully and would also appreciate any guidance that could be passed on.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kathryn Candela, LMSW

Clinical Oncology Social Worker

Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Macomb

1080 Harrington St.

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043

 

Office: 586.493.7506

  Cell:  586.610.7433

Email:  Kathryn...@mclaren.org

 

From: macombr...@googlegroups.com <macombr...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Misty Delegato
Sent: Monday, January 5, 2026 4:50 PM
To: macombresources <macombr...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Seeking Expertise: Medicaid & CMH Approval Challenges in Macomb County

 

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[Annette Heilman]

Hello Misty, 

I do not work with CMH recipients but I handle seniors medicaid renewal and applications. We also experience issues with this at times, and the best way to get to the bottom of it is unfortunately, to sit on hold with them and talk to a MDHHS representative. I'm sure you've tried this, but I figured I would put it out there just in case. Wait times are extremely high lately, but you can put them in line for a call back if needed. As an advocate, you cannot call on their behalf (without the recipient present) without becoming an authorized representative on the case, which requires DHHS to send the recipient paperwork, have you both complete it, and mail it back. So this means that you have to wait out the phone call together, because let's say the recipient leaves your appointment for some reason (you have another appointment, they have to leave, etc), and you get a call back, that DHHS worker cannot talk to you without the recipient present to give verbal authorization for your presence. I recommend that if you don't have 2 hours to sit together, that you put the call back number as the recipient's number, if they are able to take the call and get to the bottom of it independently. I also recommend calling at 9am, as soon as they open, to get ahead of the wait times. I know this is a frustrating matter, and sometimes even when calling and speaking with a representative, there are no answers. Best of luck and please share any resources or escalating techniques that you may find! 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/macombresources/LV8PR22MB4896A9872F51D9D2E294CEE5E986A%40LV8PR22MB4896.namprd22.prod.outlook.com.

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Warm regards, 

Annette Heilman, LLBSW

Service Coordinator, Phase 2

AHEPA 371 Apartments (Senior Living)

26800 Crocker Blvd. 

Harrison Twp. MI 48045

586-468-4751

[Scoggins, Brenda]

Try calling right when they open. Ive had better luck that way. I think its either 8am or 9am

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[Chanell Moore]

Greetings, MCCMH has a DHS liaison that can assist individuals who are receiving mental health services and need assistance navigating the DHS process.

 

The MCCMH/DHS Liaison is Alex Aniol – 586-850-5315 (work cell); Ani...@michigan.gov and they have been copied on this email. I encourage you to try reaching out to them directly to see if they are able to assist in this case.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Upcoming MCCMH holiday closures: Monday, January 19, 2026                                                                      There will be no live Customer Service agents working on county holidays. However, the Crisis Center is available 24/7/365 to assist individuals experiencing a mental health crisis at 586-307-9100 or 988.   Chanell Moore MPA, RSST Customer Service Administrator E chanel...@mccmh.net O 586-466-4550  X 14550 (internal use only) M 248-953-7966 F 586-522-4475 L 19800 Hall Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038 www.mccmh.net

 

 

From: 'Scoggins, Brenda' via MacombResources <macombr...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2026 8:44 AM
To: ahepa371...@gmail.com; kathryn...@mclaren.org
Cc: mdel...@relevar.com; macombresources <macombr...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Re: Seeking Expertise: Medicaid & CMH Approval Challenges in Macomb County

 

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[Karen Kierpaul]

Best source to date provided by Channel Moore - many thanks to her for the contact info provided for :

MCCMH/DHS Liaison is Alex Aniol – 586-850-5315 (work cell); Ani...@michigan.gov

Good luck - to one and all - let you all get out there and help where possible, when possible, if you can. . . 

K2

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Karen Kierpaul <k.a.ki...@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 6, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Re: Seeking Expertise: Medicaid & CMH Approval Challenges in Macomb County
To: Misty Delegato <mdel...@relevar.com>
Cc: <kathryn...@mclaren.org>

This one gives a contact that sounds most promising thus far . . . . from Channel Moore

" Greetings, MCCMH has a DHS liaison that can assist individuals who are receiving mental health services and need assistance navigating the DHS process.

 

The MCCMH/DHS Liaison is Alex Aniol – 586-850-5315 (work cell); Ani...@michigan.gov and they have been copied on this email. I encourage you to try reaching out to them directly to see if they are able to assist in this case.

K2

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[Aniol, Alexandra (DHHS)]

Hello and good morning!

 

I am now a member of the Macomb Resources group and I’m excited to be able to team up here to better service Macomb County residents.

 

I am here and happy to help to the best of my ability but would also like to clarify a few things: I work only within Macomb County and cannot service individuals who reside in other counties. Any individuals who are not receiving CMH services and have questions regarding their Medicaid status must still call the general line at 844-464-3447, Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:00pm for assistance.

 

If you are working with a client who has questions about their case and are unsure whether I can help them, please send me an email and I will let you know if I can help!

 

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

 

 

Alex Aniol

(she/her)

CMH Liaison - Eligibility Specialist

Michigan Department of Health & Human Services

Macomb County

Telephone: (586) 850-5315

 

You can now call 1-844-464-3447, to get your questions answered. This change will not impact your eligibility or benefit amounts.

 

You can access MiBridges at michigan.gov/mibridges from your phone or any computer, for your benefit needs including:

Applying for benefits – Food, Cash, Medicaid, SER, etc.  

Checking benefits 

Address changes

Uploading of documents

 

Please call 888-678-8914 to request a new Bridge card if necessary

 

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From: macombr...@googlegroups.com <macombr...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Karen Kierpaul
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Subject: Expertise: Medicaid & CMH Approval Challenges in Macomb County

 

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