H.R. 6841

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6841 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6841

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include peer support 
services at certain facilities under the Medicare program.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 18, 2025

Ms. Chu (for herself and Mr. Smith of Nebraska) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include peer support 
services at certain facilities under the Medicare program.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 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''.

SEC. 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.
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