06/26/2026
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ:
Over the past week, I have heard from numerous participants that they are being told that they can't work with multiple peers and organizations or that they should not work with certain organizations. THIS TAKES AWAY FROM ONE OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF PEER SUPPORT.
Peer support services are person-centered. It is not our position as peers to dictate who or where a participant receives services from. This takes away their autonomy and their right to make their own choices.
As grassroots organizations, it is about what is best for the community and the participants. It is not about competition; it's about collaboration and listening to the individual and what they believe is best for their life and recovery.
Minnesota Statute § 254B.052 explicitly states that a client receiving peer recovery support services must participate in those services voluntarily.
Under person-centered service planning guidelines, a fundamental right of the participant is the freedom to choose their providers and actively participate in creating their treatment or recovery plan. If a participant does not feel a specific peer specialist is a good fit, they have the right to request a different one.
A participant can absolutely work with multiple different peers. In fact, doing so is quite common and can be highly beneficial for a well-rounded recovery.
How It Works within the Same Agency
If you are receiving services through a single Recovery Community Organization (RCO), treatment center, or mental health agency (such as through ARMHS or an outpatient program), they may intentionally assign or connect you to different peers based on their unique skillsets and backgrounds. For example:
You might work with Peer A because they have a forensic/justice-involved endorsement and can help you navigate court requirements or probation.
You might work with Peer B on weekends because they lead a specific sober active group or a specialized cultural or LGBTQ+ recovery circle.
As long as it's coordinated by the agency under your Individual Recovery Plan, there are no issues.
How It Works Across Different Agencies (The Fine Print)
If you are working with multiple peers across entirely different organizations and those services are formally billed through Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP/Medicaid), you can still do it, but you must keep the state's guardrails in mind:
1. The 14-Hour Weekly Limit: The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) limits billed peer recovery support services to **14 hours per rolling 7-day period per participant**. If you have three different peers billing for time spent with you, their combined total across all agencies cannot cross that 14-hour max without an authorized exception.
2. No Duplicative Goals: The state will not pay two different agencies to do the exact same job. If you are seeing a peer at Agency X, your recovery plan might focus strictly on stable housing. If you see a peer at Agency Y, their focus needs to be distinctly different, such as family reunification or employment skills.
3. Communication is Key: Both organizations and their supervisors must be aware that you are utilizing multiple peer networks so they can write their treatment notes and recovery plans accordingly to avoid billing conflicts.
