The bill, Substitute House Bill No. 7023, mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to amend the Medicaid state plan to include peer support services within care teams funded by the medical assistance program. These peer support services are defined as recovery-focused behavioral health services that enable individuals to manage their recovery with assistance from certified peer support specialists, who may have personal experience with mental illness or substance use disorders. The bill also stipulates that Medicaid will reimburse these specialists for their services.

Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioner to submit a report by August 1, 2026, to the Human Services and Public Health committees detailing the number of peer support specialists receiving Medicaid reimbursement, the number of Medicaid enrollees they serve, and any outcome data related to the treatment provided. The effective date for this legislation is set for July 1, 2025. The bill introduces new legal language regarding the definitions of peer support services and specialists while making no deletions from existing law.