Howard County Health Department — Administrative Care Coordination UnitHelps Medicaid and HealthChoice members use their plan: benefits questions, finding in-network providers, billing problems, appeals, and disputes with a health plan such as a denied refill. It also has an ombudsman for disagreements with your plan. Weekdays 8 to 4. Email accu@howardcountymd.gov. 410-313-7323

Model Waiver for Medically Fragile ChildrenLets a medically fragile child be cared for at home. Services include case management, private duty nursing, and home health aide services. The child must need nursing-facility or chronic-hospital level of care, be 21 or younger when approved, and not be in another waiver. Only the child’s own income and assets count. Ask for the Model Waiver Intake Team at The Coordinating Center to join the registry. 410-987-1048

Autism WaiverFor children with an autism diagnosis from age 1 through the end of the school year in which they turn 21, who have an IEP or IFSP with at least 15 hours a week of special education and related services. It adds full Medicaid plus services such as respite, intensive individual support, and family consultation. Call the Autism Waiver Registry to join the wait list. 1-866-417-3480

DDA Community Pathways WaiverFor people with a developmental disability who are eligible through the Developmental Disabilities Administration. It can include respite, personal supports, behavior supports, family caregiver training, assistive technology, and transportation. Start with the Central Maryland Regional Office to apply for DDA eligibility. 410-234-8200

Howard County Department of Social Services — Respite Care ProgramThe state says to start with your local Department of Social Services, so ask for the Respite Care Program by name. Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 4:30. 410-872-8700

Maryland Access Point — caregiver fundsFederal caregiver money can pay for respite, personal care, or needed items. For families raising children it helps grandparents and other relatives age 55 or older who are not the parents. MAP checks eligibility by phone. 410-313-1234

Your Medicaid health plan’s member services lineThe number is on the back of your card. Ask to change the delivery address, restart a lost shipment, pause automatic refills, or move the order to a pharmacy you can reach in person.

Health Department — Administrative Care Coordination UnitSteps in when the plan will not fix a billing problem or a denied refill. Weekdays 8 to 4. 410-313-7323

Ask the pharmacist for the emergency supply by nameFor state-covered and mental health drugs, the pharmacist can call the state line, open 24/7. 800-932-3918

Maryland Medicaid Pharmacy Access HotlineAnswers questions about emergency supplies and prior authorization. Weekdays 8 to 5. 833-325-0105

BGE Special Needs ProgramsFor customers with a serious illness or on life support (a physician or certified nurse practitioner completes the forms), customers with a disability (send a copy of the state certification of disability), and older customers (proof of age and address). You have 30 days to return the forms, and BGE says no collection activity happens during that period for a customer scheduled to be disconnected. Send forms by fax to 1-443-213-3302 or email ActiveCollections@exeloncorp.com. If you use medical equipment that runs on electricity, ask for outage planning information. Deaf or hard of hearing: Maryland Relay, 1-800-735-2258. If you are in the hospital, a hospital social worker can call BGE to delay collection until you are home. BGE 1-800-685-0123

Energy assistance (OHEP) through the Community Action Council of Howard CountyPays your utility directly. It includes a heating grant, an electric grant, help with past-due bills (a past-due bill of $300 or more; up to $2,000 for electric and $1,000 for gas), and the Utility Service Protection Program that protects against winter turn-offs. Apply at MarylandBenefits.gov, by phone, or in person. Bring photo ID, proof of residence, Social Security cards for everyone in the home, 30 days of income for every adult, and your latest utility bill. Apply first, because the county’s emergency help for heating and cooling requires it. Weekdays 8:30 to 4:30. (410) 313-6440

Fuel Fund of MarylandA grant toward your BGE bill when the power is off or you have a turn-off notice. You must be a BGE residential customer, have made at least four separate payments to BGE in the past year, and have had no Fuel Fund grant in the last 365 days. Apply online on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 am to 12 pm; review takes up to five business days, and duplicate applications slow it down. fuelfundmaryland.org/apply

Howard County Medicaid ridesShared rides to medical appointments for people with an active Medicaid number who have no other way to get there. Weekdays 8 am to 4:30 pm; phones close 12 to 1. 1-877-312-6571

Your Medicaid health plan’s own ridesSeveral plans add rides on top of the county line, for example CareFirst Community Health Plan (6 free one-way rides, 833-509-0250), Aetna Better Health (866-827-2710), Priority Partners (800-654-9728), Jai Medical (888-524-1999), and MedStar Family Choice (800-905-1722, option 1). Call the number on your card.

RTA buses and door-to-door ridesLocal RTA buses in Howard County are free for riders with a disability who show an ID or an RTA Certified FREE Ride Card. Door-to-door rides are also available to people with disabilities through an application. Ask how it works for children under 18. 1-800-270-9553

Autism Society of Maryland — Family NavigatorFor autism families most in need: help with food, shelter, utilities, medical assistance, insurance, and disability services. A Howard County program, weekdays 8:30 to 5. 410-290-3466

Pathfinders for Autism — Help LineA free statewide autism help line where staff help you find providers and services. It also offers free window clings with a form for first responders. 443-330-5341

In danger or in a mental health crisisCall 911 for danger. Call or text 988 for a mental health crisis. 911 · 988

The Loan Closet of Howard CountyFree medical equipment and assistive technology donated by residents and handed out to people who need it. Open to Howard County residents of any age with an injury, illness, or medical condition. A doctor, PA, nurse practitioner, PT, or OT fills out the Healthcare Referral Form, then faxes it to 410-313-0369 or emails loancloset@howardcountymd.gov, and staff book a pickup. Stock changes with donations and has included pediatric wheelchairs, sensory swings, and kids’ noise-cancelling earmuffs. 7125 Riverwood Dr, Suite D1, Columbia. Weekdays 8 to 4. 410-313-0363

Maryland AT Reuse CenterFree long-term loans of refurbished assistive technology such as iPads, speech and communication devices, adapted keyboards, switches, and eye-gaze systems. It does not give out computers or medical equipment. Apply online or search the inventory at myatprogram.org. It sits inside the Loan Closet building. 410-554-9232

Maryland Medicaid and medical suppliesMedicaid pays for disposable medical supplies and durable medical equipment when they are medically necessary and prescribed by a provider enrolled in Medicaid. That includes incontinence products: children’s diapers and underwear are covered when they are medically necessary for prolonged bladder or bowel incontinence, and pull-on styles are covered when the person can put them on independently. Ask your child’s doctor to write the prescription, ask your health plan which supplier to use and whether prior approval is needed, and call the Administrative Care Coordination Unit if the plan says no. 410-313-7323

Howard County Food Bank — diapers, wipes, formulaFree grocery-style shopping up to twice a month that includes diapers, wipes, baby formula, baby food, and period products. Apply online first, then come shop. Bring photo ID, proof you live in Howard County, and 30 days of income for everyone 18 and older. Walk-in Tuesday 1 to 4, Wednesday 1 to 7, Thursday 1 to 4; Saturday 9 to 1 by appointment. No lease because you are homeless? Call the Community Action Council at 410-313-6440. 410-313-6185

Chase Brexton Health Care — ColumbiaA community health center with primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dental, mental health, and social work, plus a full-service pharmacy on the third floor (Suite 370). The pharmacy fills prescriptions from Chase Brexton or from outside providers: ask the doctor to send the prescription there, or drop it off and pick it up in person. It accepts most insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid, and says it will work with people who have no insurance. 5500 Knoll N Dr, Columbia. 410-837-2050

Howard County Health Department — Car Seat Assistance Program (Kids in Safety Seats)A new car seat plus car seat safety education for income-eligible Howard County families. A referral is required, so ask a provider you already see, such as your child’s doctor, a WIC or social services worker, or a school social worker, to complete the Car Seat Assistance Program referral form. Supplies are limited, and the program is for Howard County residents only. The same program area offers a free portable crib through Cribs for Kids for babies, also by referral. howardcountymd.gov/health/injury-prevention

Safe Kids Howard County — free car seat checkupsA certified Child Passenger Safety Technician checks that the seat is right for your child and installed correctly in your own car. Checkups are by appointment only, take 40 to 60 minutes, and are booked up to 4 to 6 weeks ahead, so schedule early. Email to book. safekids@howardcountymd.gov

Maryland Kids In Safety Seats (KISS)The statewide program. Free services include in-person and virtual car seat checks and guidance on seats, boosters, and Maryland law. KISS also offers low-cost car seats and can point you to a car seat assistance program near you. Ask about seats for a child with special medical needs. Weekdays 8:30 to 5. 800-370-SEAT · 410-767-6016

A used seat from a friend?Before you accept one, check that it has not expired, has no open recalls, and was never in a crash. When you cannot confirm all three, ask KISS or a Safe Kids technician.