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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 6841

Rep. Chu and Rep. Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Medicare Coverage for Peer Support Services

PEERS Act of 2025

3 months ago·View on Congress.gov
Part of: Bipartisan PEERS Act Introduced to Expand Medicare Mental Health Coverage

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law

Key Points

  • This bill, known as the PEERS Act of 2025, would expand Medicare to cover "peer support services." These are services where people who have lived through mental health or addiction challenges help others going through similar struggles.
  • The services would be available at specific locations, including rural health clinics, community mental health centers, and federally qualified health centers. This is intended to make it easier for people in underserved or rural areas to get help.
  • To provide these services, a "peer support specialist" must be in recovery themselves and hold a certification that meets national standards. They provide emotional and social support to help patients stay active in their communities and stick to their recovery goals.
  • Patients would be eligible for this support if they have a diagnosed mental health condition or a substance use disorder. The bill aims to treat these issues using a team-based approach that includes people with real-world experience.
  • If the bill becomes law, Medicare would start paying for these services on January 1, 2027. This delay gives the government and health centers time to set up the new rules and certification processes.
HealthcareMental Health

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Broader Impacts

Score
Scores: -5 (harmful) to +5 (beneficial)Short-term: 0-2 yearsLong-term: 10-30 years

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Dec 18, 2025House

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.

Dec 18, 2025

Introduced in House

Related Bills

1 bill
S. 3521Identical bill

PEERS Act of 2025

Dec 17 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

PEERS Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 6841
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred 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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)
R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.