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Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage of peer support services. These FAQs were developed in close collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide clarification regarding federal policy on coverage of peer support services outlined in the State Medicaid Director (SMD) letter #07-011 issued on August 15, 2007, which established that states “have the option to offer [p]eer [s]upport services as a component of a comprehensive mental health and substance use service delivery system.”
CMS strongly encourages states to expand availability and utilization of peer support services to serve adults, youth, and families who experience mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders. Peer Support services can be an important part of mental health and substance use treatment throughout the full continuum of care—prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery.
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