Peer Supports

This summary draws attention to some of the most important aspects of CMS’s recently released guidance for states and stakeholders on the use of managed care for long-term services and supports (MLTSS) as well as transitioning LTSS providers into managed care systems and developing MLTSS programs. CMS identified 10 important elements that should be incorporated into managed LTSS and this document can assist consumers and their representatives in understanding these elements.

This report provides background on MLTSS to brief the intellectual and developmental disability community, as well as the President and the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, on managed care and changes in LTSS administration so that they may take action and influence outcomes. The report also contains a number of recommendations related to disability stakeholder engagement, choice and self-determination, consumer protections and rights and quality measurement.

The Affordable Care Act authorized the Medicaid Health Home State Plan Option, which allows states to design health homes to provide comprehensive care coordination for Medicaid beneficiaries with chronic conditions. States will receive enhanced federal funding to support the rollout of this new integrated model of care. This link directs to the Health Home Resource Center that provides technical assistance services for states as they submit their proposals for these health homes to CMS.

SAMHSA has updated its definition of recovery as it pertains to substance use and mental disorders. This working definition and set of guiding principles reflects the increased role peer supports and Peer Specialists have been playing in mental health programming. This document provides a summary of SAMHSA’s new definitions, as well as a checklist for effectively using peer supports in a variety of mental health programs.

An exciting new trend in community mental health services is the increasing use of "Peer Specialists" on treatment teams serving people with mental illness. Peer Specialists use their own recovery experiences, along with specialized mental health training, to provide services that are strengths based and recovery oriented. To learn more, explore the attached presentation, article, and mentoring plan.

Use these attached outreach materials to learn more about QSPAND, a network of quality service providers working to improve their abilities to provide client-centered services in the least restrictive environment possible. Members act as peer supporters as well as advocates for critical issues and policy changes through educating legislators and policymakers. Please access QSPAND's website, as well as newsletters and a brochure for more information.