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BEM 100 8 of 18 INTRODUCTION BPB 2026-014 5-1-2026

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

Policy exceptions may be issued in case specific situations not cov- ered by published policy. They may also be granted as overrides of eligibility results in the automated eligibility system, Bridges, in any of the situations that follow: • The eligibility results are incorrect or are inconsistent with published policy. • Eligibility must be manually determined and applied in Bridges due to an unusual combination of circumstances. • Manual adjustments to federal or state FIP time clock counters are necessary. • The department has been overturned in a hearing or court decision and an override is necessary to implement the decision because it is outside the normal eligibility rules in Bridges or is contrary to correct policy rules implemented in Bridges. Policy exception decisions for case specific problems not covered by published policy may be issued on form DHS-1785, Policy Deci- sion, or an MSA notice by either of the following: • The Medical Services Administration within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) central office for Medicaid. • The Department of Education, Office of Great Start, Child Development and Care for CDC. • The Economic Stability Administration, in the MDHHS central office for all other programs. Policy issued on the DHS-1785 is official policy, but only for the case specified on the form. There are three situations for which policy exceptions may be approved and issued on the policy decision form by the MDHHS and/or MSA central offices for case specific situations: • There is no existing policy in manuals or numbered bulletins that applies in a specific case. • A policy exception is needed for use in a specific case due to a new legal decision or a new law or regulation that is not yet official MDHHS policy.