AN ACT CONCERNING MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE COACHES AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS UNDER A PEER SUPPORT TREATMENT MODEL.

HB 7023 requires Connecticut's Medicaid program to reimburse certified peer support specialists for providing recovery-focused help to Medicaid enrollees with mental health or substance use challenges. It defines peer support specialists as individuals with lived recovery experience who are certified by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The bill mandates Medicaid reimbursement for these services starting July 2025 and requires the Department of Social Services to report by August 2026 on how many specialists are paid, how many enrollees they serve, and treatment outcomes. This directly affects Medicaid patients seeking peer support and certified peer specialists providing these services.