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BAM 110 12 of 28 APPLICATION FILING AND REGISTRATION BPB 2025-003 1-1-2025

BRIDGES ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Note: If unrelated adults living in the same home apply for assistance, neither has the authority to act on the other’s behalf without written permission from the applicant. Authorized Representative Medicaid Only An authorized representative must be one of the following: • An adult child or stepchild. • A core relative. • Designated in writing by the individual. • Court appointed. A representative of an institution (such as jail or prison) where the individual is in custody. Persons Providing Medical Care Medicaid Only Persons who provide medical care to the client, or their agents, should not act for the client when there is a relative, guardian or friend who is willing and able to act. If a court has appointed a guardian for a client’s estate (such as income and assets), the guardian is usually expected to act for the client. Exception: An application may be made for newborns surrendered under the Safe Delivery Law, (MCL 712.1-712.20) by the provider hospital, child-placing agency, court appointed lawyer- guardian ad litem or prospective adoptive parent. A department employee may apply on behalf of a member of the employee's family or a child committed to, or placed with, the department by court order. Note: An authorization to represent is a form of a power of attorney. When a person who gave the authorization dies, the power of attorney ends. After death, the person does not exist as a legal entity, so no one can represent the person. However, if a person dies while the application is pending, the application should be processed. An estate may be created to handle the remaining business and financial issues that were outstanding at the time of death. Only a probate court can create a decedent’s estate. The court will also appoint someone to act as a representative of the estate.