S. 3521

119 S3521 IS: Promoting Effective and Empowering Recovery Services in Medicare Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-12-17
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 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 3521  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   December 17, 2025   Ms. Cortez Masto  (for herself and  Mr. Cassidy ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Finance    A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include peer support services at certain facilities under the Medicare program.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Promoting Effective and Empowering Recovery Services in Medicare Act of 2025   or the   PEERS Act of 2025  .
2.
Inclusion of peer support services at certain facilities under the Medicare program
(a)
Services
(1)
Inclusion at community mental health centers
Section 1832(a)(2)(J) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395k(a)(2)(J) ) is amended by striking  and intensive outpatient services  and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting  , intensive outpatient services, and peer support services (as defined in section 1861(nnn)(1)) provided by a community mental health center (as defined in section 1861(ff)(3)(B)). .
(2)
Inclusion as RHC and FQHC services
Section 1861(aa)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa)(1)(B) ) is amended—
(A)
by striking  or by a mental  and inserting  by a mental ; and
(B)
by inserting  or by a peer support specialist (as defined in subsection (nnn)(2))  after  subsection (ll)(4)), .
(b)
Definition
Section 1861 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(nnn)
Peer support services and peer support specialist
(1)
Peer support services
The term  peer support services  means emotional, informational, instrumental, and social and community support services—
(A)
furnished—
(i)
by a Federally qualified health center, a rural health clinic, a community mental health center, or a certified community behavioral health clinic (as described in section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014), using a peer support specialist; and
(ii)
to an individual who has been diagnosed with a mental health condition or substance use disorder; and
(B)
that are designed to assist such individual in achieving recovery, integration in the community, self-empowerment, and self-determination (as specified by the Secretary).
(2)
Peer support specialist
The term  peer support specialist  means an individual who—
(A)
is recovering from a mental health or substance use condition; and
(B)
is certified as qualified to furnish peer support services under a certification process consistent with the National Practice Guidelines for Peer Supporters and inclusive of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Core Competencies for Peer Workers in Behavioral Health Settings (as established by the State in which such individual furnishes such services or under such certification process determined appropriate by the Secretary).
 .
(c)
Exclusion modification
Section 1862(a)(1) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395y(a)(1) ) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (O), by striking  and  at the end;
(2)
in subparagraph (P), by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting  , and ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(Q)
in the case of peer support services (as defined in section 1861(nnn(1))), which are not furnished by a rural health clinic, a Federally qualified health center, a community mental health center, or a certified community behavioral health clinic (as described in section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014);
 .
(d)
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.