California Association of Peer Professionals

06/07/2024

NEW: Frequently Asked Questions on Medicaid and CHIP Coverage of Peer Support Services

This document provides clarifications regarding previously established policy on Medicaid and CHIP coverage of peer support services outlined in the State Medicaid Director (SMD) letter on this topic (SMD letter #07-011) issued on August 15, 2007. The SMD letter #07-011 established that states “have the option to offer [p]eer [s]upport services as a component of a comprehensive mental health and substance use service delivery system.”

Read the Full FAQ:

06/07/2024

Centering Lived Expertise: How to Meaningfully Elevate the Voices of People Directly Impacted by the Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health Systems

This brief summarizes guidance developed by a panel of people with direct experience in both the criminal justice and behavioral health systems about how to meaningfully engage and partner with people with lived experience to advance policies and practices at this intersection. State and local officials, criminal justice practitioners, behavioral health organizations, and other interested parties wishing to engage the voices and expertise of people impacted by these systems can use the insights outlined in this resource to develop engagement strategies that meet their needs and ensure strong, fruitful partnerships.

Read the full brief:

12/19/2023

Peers in Medicare Act (Congressional Bill)
This bipartisan legislation, championed by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Sen. Bill Cassidy, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Congressman Adrian Smith, paves the way for Medicare coverage of peer support services.

What does this mean? The legislation would enable reimbursement for peer support services delivered by community health centers and other peer support providers. It extends the groundwork laid during the 117th Congress, where peer support specialists were acknowledged in Medicare as integral members of interdisciplinary integrated care teams and mobile crisis teams. The expansion allows for the delivery of peer support services to be broadened, encompassing community mental health centers, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and certified community behavioral health clinics.

Why is this important? Evidence shows that peer support specialists, drawing from their lived and living experiences, enhance individuals' recovery, reducing hospitalizations and crises and improving overall well-being. Peer support services play a vital role in restoring relationships, managing co-occurring conditions, and saving lives. As our nation addresses growing mental health and substance use needs, peer support services can help to expand the breadth and depth of support available.

Read Mental Health America's Press Release:

Act would allow reimbursement of peer support services Washington, D.C. – Mental Health America (MHA), the National Association of Peer Supporters (NAPS), the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), the Associatio...

11/01/2023

Role of the Peer in the CARE Act Process
Thursday, November 16 at 9:00 a.m.

This training provides an overview of how peers can participate in the CARE Act, as volunteer supporters, as part of the CARE team as peer support specialists, or in other ways as a supporter. They will also discuss principles and core competencies of peer workers, including strategies and resources available for peers. The training and subsequent open-forum discussion are intended for behavioral health agencies, peer organizations, volunteer supporters, and other stakeholder groups involved in the CARE Act implementation process.

Subsequent Open-Forum Discussion
Friday, November 17 at 9:00 AM

This forum is intended to provide the ability to ask questions, discuss topics needing clarification, and share ideas and thoughts.

Register for both events here:

Community Assistance, Recovery & Empowerment (CARE) Act Resource Center | Training & Technical Assistance

10/23/2023

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08/01/2023

Listening Sessions start today (8/1) through August 17, 2023.

Listening Sessions for Advocacy Save the Date The Commission will be conducting a series of virtual listening sessions, focusing on […]

08/01/2023

SAVE LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING AND SERVICES!

AUGUST 22, 2023

Join mental health advocates, clients, families, and service providers to demand that the legislature stop SB 326: MHSA "Modernization" which drastically cuts funding from county community-based mental health services.

California Assembly Health Committee Public Informational Hearing on SB 326.
Morning of August 22, 2023

Official Assembly Health Committee Hearing
August 22, 2023 | 1:30 PM

POSSIBLE LOCATIONS:

California State Capitol
1315 10th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

OR

Capitol Annex Swing Space
1021 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Additional information will be provided when the legislature returns to session and publicly finalizes the meeting logistics after August 14, 2023.

Register for Updates: http://bit.ly/3QiAHKu

07/26/2023

07/19/2023

INFORMATION SESSION
SB 326: MHSA "Modernization"

Monday, July 24, 2023 | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
(This session will be recorded)

Cal Voices is providing an information session to inform stakeholders on the impacts that SB 326 will have on the behavioral health system if passed by the legislature and approved by the voters on the March 2024 ballot.

BACKGROUND

On June 19, the Legislature introduced for the first time 233 pages of changes to the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and related law in Senate Bill 326. The bill fundamentally alters the public behavioral health system and will likely result in loss of funding to community-based service providers, and loss of services to mental health clients and their families.

Cal Voices believes the MHSA was a hallmark ballot initiative intended to transform the mental health system, and believes it puts the clients, and the community in a position of shared power (long overdue) with the government entities creating programs and policies to serve our behavioral health needs. We believe SB 326 has catastrophic consequences for our public behavioral health system and the people it serves.

Bill Language: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB326

Register Now: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkd-GvqzMiHtXdU1QUtj9A-sV1dZSvUYOY #/registration

07/13/2023

2023 State Income Limits Report Posted in June.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development Division released its latest income limit report for all of California’s 58 counties. The report is calculated annually and it breaks down income limits for family sizes of up to eight with tiers: acutely low, extremely low, very low income, median income and moderate income.

Example: Single resident households in Sacramento earning less than $60,050 annually are considered low income residents

State Income Limits apply to designated programs, are used to determine applicant eligibility (based on the level of household income) and may be used to calculate affordable housing costs for applicable housing assistance programs. Use of State Income Limits are subject to a particular program’s definition of income, family, family size, effective dates, and other factors. In addition, definitions applicable to income categories, criteria, and geographic areas sometimes differ depending on the funding source and program, resulting in some programs using other income limits.

07/10/2023

CAPP Quarterly Newsletter!

Be sure to check out our quarterly Newsletter to keep up with all things related to peer support!

Newsletter: https://conta.cc/3PMBIu5

Join our mailing list: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/I72rycj

Become a member: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6710429/Peer-Association-Registration-Form

Stay informed on all things Peer Support!   Good Morning CAPP Members! Please check out our quarterly newsletter, where we will provide you with CAPP updates, information on important issues related t

07/10/2023

Why mental health providers say Medi-Cal’s latest reform may force them to cut services

The new system pays more for behavioral health providers with advanced degrees or certifications. The goal, like much of CalAIM’s changes, is to incentivize providers to produce better outcomes at a lower cost. But community providers contend that the resulting system undervalues the lived experience of someone like Garcia Williams.

“What was disheartening is the rate for someone with lived experience is significantly lower than someone with other roles,” Manners said. “Many times it is the person with lived experience that keeps the family engaged. They are the ones who listen and who have walked in their shoes.”

Full Article: https://calmatters.org/health/2023/07/medi-cal-mental-health-2/

Medi-Cal is changing how it pays mental health providers; some say they will have to cut services such as home visits.