In 2001, Georgia and Arizona were the first states to approve peer support as a Medicaid billable service (Salzer, 2010). Since then a number of states have also begun to approve peer support as a Medicaid billable service. For instance, some states offer peer support under two
Medicaid authorities:
• Section 1905 (a) (13), which allows states to provide rehabilitative services in the Medicaid State Plan
• Section 1915(b) (3), which allows states to use cost savings from a Freedom of Choice Waiver to provide additional services (Salzer, 2010; Eiken & Campbell, 2010).
In addition to the Medicaid waivers, several states have also begun to support certified peer specialist’s services through alternative Medicaid financing strategies. For instance, some states do this by qualifying …show more content…
Furthermore, SAMHSA continues to lead the efforts in strengthen the peer led movement by identifying “the critical knowledge, skills, and abilities” that one would need if they chose to provide supports to individuals in recovery (SAMHSA, p.1). SAMHSA’s efforts in conjunction with several other stakeholders led to the development of Core Competencies for peer workers in the behavioral health field. According to SAMHSA, these Core Competencies are to be used to guide service delivery along with promoting best practices in peer supports. They are recommended to be used in the development of training programs, certification standards, and job descriptions. The core competencies, principles and values that have been identified by the mental health consumer recovery community are as follows:
• Recovery-oriented: a peer worker should instill hope and build on one’s strengths while empowering the individual to choose their own path to
Medicaid authorities:
• Section 1905 (a) (13), which allows states to provide rehabilitative services in the Medicaid State Plan
• Section 1915(b) (3), which allows states to use cost savings from a Freedom of Choice Waiver to provide additional services (Salzer, 2010; Eiken & Campbell, 2010).
In addition to the Medicaid waivers, several states have also begun to support certified peer specialist’s services through alternative Medicaid financing strategies. For instance, some states do this by qualifying …show more content…
Furthermore, SAMHSA continues to lead the efforts in strengthen the peer led movement by identifying “the critical knowledge, skills, and abilities” that one would need if they chose to provide supports to individuals in recovery (SAMHSA, p.1). SAMHSA’s efforts in conjunction with several other stakeholders led to the development of Core Competencies for peer workers in the behavioral health field. According to SAMHSA, these Core Competencies are to be used to guide service delivery along with promoting best practices in peer supports. They are recommended to be used in the development of training programs, certification standards, and job descriptions. The core competencies, principles and values that have been identified by the mental health consumer recovery community are as follows:
• Recovery-oriented: a peer worker should instill hope and build on one’s strengths while empowering the individual to choose their own path to