The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) is working with stakeholders to quickly prepare for statewide implementation of Medical Assistance (MA) certified peer specialist services in Pennsylvania. If a Medicaid State Plan Amendment request is approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), peer specialist services could be implemented as early as October 1. OMHSAS has indicated that if CMS approval is not granted in time for the planned October 1 implementation date, then implementation will be postponed. Certified peer specialists have been used in pilot programs in three geographic regions across the commonwealth; OMHSAS is now preparing for statewide implementation.
OMHSAS has scheduled four training sessions in Clarion, Whitehall, State College, and Greensburg for peers from selected counties. Each county or county joinder will select two peers to attend the training session, which is provided at no charge. Hotel rooms and continental breakfast and lunch are included for peers each training day. The Certified Peer Specialist course is provided for 10 days over a three week period. In addition, OMHSAS has scheduled four two-day supervisory orientation sessions, also provided at no charge. Counties are asked to select a supervisor from each agency that will employ the peer specialists to attend an orientation session. OMHSAS will not cover hotel and meal costs for supervisors. OMHSAS has also requested that an executive from the provider agency and a county representative attend the supervisory orientation sessions. The first session begins August 7 in Clarion.
Providers of outpatient mental health services, partial hospitalization programs, intensive case management, or crisis intervention services who are interested in participating in the peer support initiative should contact their county mental health/mental retardation program to discuss their interest and training nominees. Only two candidates will be selected for each county or county joinder for this initial round of training. However, counties and providers will work together with OMHSAS to roll out a more comprehensive approach to peer specialist services. Please contact Betty Simmonds with questions.
