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BAM 600 2 of 50 HEARINGS BPB 2026-014 5-1-2026
BRIDGES ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Medicaid (MA) Only A client and the client’s community spouse are each entitled to an explanation of specific factors in the determination. Follow instruc- tions in Bridges Eligibility Manual (BEM) 402. Special MA Asset Rules. HEARING REQUESTS All Programs All clients have the right to request a hearing. The following people have authority to exercise this right by signing a hearing request: • An adult member of the eligible group; or • The client’s authorized hearing representative (AHR). Requests for a hearing must be made in writing and signed by one of the persons listed above. The request must bear a signature. Faxes or photocopies of signatures are acceptable. Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (MOAHR) will deny requests signed by unauthorized persons and requests without signatures. Exception: For Food Assistance Program (FAP) only, a hearing request may be written or oral. If oral, complete the DHS-18, Request for Hearing, note on the DHS-18 the request was oral. Also note on the hearing summary that the request was oral. A hearing request with a client signature may name an AHR who is authorized to stand in for or represent the client in the rest of the hearing process. Dissatisfaction with a department action may be expressed, orally or in writing, without specifically requesting a hearing. Determine whether there is actually a desire to request a hearing. If so, ensure that the request is put in writing. The DHS-18, Request for Hearing, available from MDHHS, may be used. Note the date of receipt of the original written request on the form/notice. All hearing requests must be recorded in Bridges, on the Hearing Restore Benefits screen; see Timely Hearing Requests in this item.