PEERS Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Chu
Introduced
Summary
Would make Medicare cover peer support services at community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and certified community behavioral health clinics. It also defines who counts as a peer support specialist and what peer support services include.
Show full summary
- People with mental health conditions or substance use disorders would be able to get emotional, informational, instrumental, and social or community support through certified peer support specialists at those clinics. These services are intended to help recovery, community integration, self-empowerment, and self-determination.
- Peer support specialists would be defined as individuals in recovery who are certified under a state process or a Secretary-approved process consistent with the National Practice Guidelines for Peer Supporters and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Core Competencies.
- Clinics would be able to bill Medicare for these peer support services when furnished at the specified clinic types. Services would not be covered if provided outside those clinic settings. The changes would apply to care furnished on or after January 1, 2027.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Medicare coverage for peer support
This bill would add a new Medicare-covered service called peer support services starting January 1, 2027. You would need Medicare and a diagnosed mental health condition or substance use disorder to get the service. The service would be covered only when given at a Federally qualified health center, rural health clinic, community mental health center, or a certified community behavioral health clinic. The peer support worker would have to be in recovery and certified by the State or a Secretary-approved process. Peer support given outside those listed places would not be covered.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Chu
CA • D
Cosponsors
Smith (NE)
NE • R
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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