The Department of Public Welfare (DPW) issued the Medical Assistance (MA) bulletin entitled Peer Support Services with an issue date of May 22 and an effective date of November 1, 2006. The bulletin is applicable to both Fee-for-Service and HealthChoices providers. Every county or county joinder must now make this service available for those who meet the medical necessity criteria and choose the service.
Peer Support Services are person-centered, self-directed, and recovery-focused and include such services as individual advocacy, education, development of natural supports, support of work or other meaningful activity, crisis management support, skills training, effective utilization of the service delivery system, and coordination of and linkage to other service providers. Services are recommended by a practitioner and provided in accordance with a recovery-focused Individual Service Plan developed with the individual’s input and provided by a self-identified peer who has completed a peer specialist certification training program approved by DPW. Individuals who are 18 years of age or older, members of the adult priority group as defined in Mental Health Bulletin OMH-94-04, Serious Mental Illness: Adult Priority Group, and have a moderate to severe functional impairment that limits performance in at least one domain (educational, social, vocational, or self-maintenance) are eligible for the service. Others may also receive peer support services through the MA Program Exception Process.
The peer support bulletin, MA Handbook pages, and Supplemental Provider Agreement are available from these links. A set of frequently asked questions and the Peer Support Services Service Description Review Checklist are also available. DPW plans to hold technical assistance sessions with the dates and locations to be announced soon. Please contact Betty Simmonds at PCPA with questions.
