Our Services

Definitions

To better help you understand community mental health terms, below is a listing of commonly used phrases and their definitions.

Adult Benefits Waiver:

Michigan health care program for certain low-income adults who are not eligible for the Medicaid program. Contact the [Customer Services Unit] for more information. This is a narrowly defined benefit that does not entitle you to all of the services and supports described in the Community Mental Health Affiliation of Mid-Michigan Member Handbook.

Amount, Duration, and Scope

How much, how long, and what ways the Medicaid services that are listed in a person's individual plan of service will be provided.

Assessment

Includes a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing, substance abuse screening, or other assessment except for physical health, conducted to determine a person's level of functioning and mental health treatment needs.

Assistive Technology

Includes adaptive devices and supplies that are not covered under the Medicaid Health Plan or by other community resources. These devices help individuals to better take care of themselves, or to better interact in the places where they live, work, and play.

Behavior Management Review

If a person's illness or disability involves behaviors that they or others who work with them want to change, their individual plan of services may include a plan that talks about the behavior. This plan is often called a "behavior management plan"

Beneficiary

An individual who is eligible for and enrolled in the Medicaid program in Michigan.

CA

An acronym for Substance Abuse Coordinating Agency. The CAs in Michigan manage services for people with substance use disorders.

CMHSP

An acronym for Community Mental Health Services Program. There are 46 CMHSPs in Michigan that provide services in their local areas to people with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

Deductible (or Spend-Down)

A term used when individuals qualify for Medicaid coverage even though their countable incomes are higher than the usual Medicaid income standard. Under this process, the medical expenses that an individual incurs during a month are subtracted from the individual's income during that month. Once the individual's income has been reduced to a state specified level, the individual qualifies for Medicaid benefits for the remainder of the month.

Developmental Disability

Is defined by the Michigan Mental Health code means either of the following: (a) If applied to a person older than five years, a severe chronic condition that is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or both, and is manifested before the age of 22 years; is likely to continue indefinitely; and results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas of the following major life activities: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency; and reflects the need for a combination of sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment or other services that are of lifelong or extended duration; (b) If applied to a minor from birth to age five, a substantial development delay or a specific congenital or acquired condition with a high probability of resulting in a developmental disability.

Fair Hearings

A state level review of beneficiaries' disagreements with health plans' denial, reduction, suspension or termination of Medicaid services. State administrative law judges who are independent of the Michigan Department of Community Health perform the reviews.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

This legislation is aimed, in part, at protecting the privacy and confidentiality of patient information. "Patient" means any recipient of public or private health care, including mental health care, services.

MDCH

An acronym for Michigan Department of Community Health. This state department, located in Lansing, oversees public-funded services provided in local communities and state facilities to people with mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance use disorders.

Medically Necessary

A term used to describe one of the criteria that must be met in order for a beneficiary to receive Medicaid services. It means that the specific service is expected to help the beneficiary with is/her mental health, developmental disability or substance use (or any other medical) condition. Some services assess needs and some services help maintain or improve functioning.

Michigan Mental Health Code

The state law that governs public mental health services provided to adults and children with mental illness, serious emotional disturbance and developmental disabilities by local community mental health services programs and in state facilities.

MIChild

A Michigan health care program for low-income children who are not eligible for the Medicaid program. This is a limited benefit. Contact the [Customer Services Unit] for more information.

PIHP

An acronym for Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan. There are 18 PIHPs in Michigan that manage the Medicaid mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse services in their geographic areas. All 18 PIHPs are also community mental health services programs.

Recovery

A journey of healing and change allowing a person to live a meaningful life in a community of their choice, while working toward their full potential.

Resiliency

The ability to "bounce back." This is a characteristic important to nurture in children with serious emotional disturbance and their families. It refers to the individual's ability to become successful despite challenges they may face throughout their life.

SED

An acronym for Serious Emotional Disturbance, and as defined by the Michigan Mental Health Code, means a diagnosable mental, behavioral or emotional disorder affecting a child that exists or has existed during the past year for a period of time sufficient to meet diagnostic criteria specified in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; and has resulted in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits the child's role or functioning in family, school, or community activities.

Serious Mental Illness

Is defined by the Michigan Mental Health Code to mean a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder affecting an adult that exists or has existed within the past year for a period of time sufficient to meet diagnostic criteria specified in the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; and that has resulted in function impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

Substance Use Disorder (or substance abuse)

Is defined in the Michigan Public Health Code to mean the taking of alcohol or other drugs at dosages that place an individual's social, economic, psychological, and physical welfare in potential hazard or to the extent that an individual loses the power of self-control as a result of the use of alcohol or drugs, or while habitually under the influence of alcohol or drugs, endangers public health, morals, safety, or welfare, or a combination thereof.