Funding Peer Support Services in Ohio

Which organization(s) makes funding decisions State agencies determine which
services are included in the Medicaid benefit package.
Issues in Using this Funding Source: Until Peer Support is included in the Medicaid
benefit package as a discrete service or Medicaid financing of AoD and MH services
changes from fee-for-service, Medicaid funding cannot be used to finance it.
Additionally, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) requires that staff providing
Peer Support Service (which includes peer recovery coaching) is certified by the state
or its designee. ODMH has designated Ohio Empowerment Coalition as the
organization to provide this certification for peer specialists and has worked with this
organization to develop a certification process.
Such a training and relationship will be developed for addiction-specific peer support
training and service delivery. Ohio Citizen Advocates would be willing to assume this
function for peer recovery coaches, as well as work with Ohio Empowerment Coalition
to achieve some economies of scale.
18