SB 803 (Beall) Peer Support Specialist Certification and Peer Support Services is on the Governor’s Desk.
SB 803 establishes a peer support specialist certification program for behavioral health services and adds peer support services as a Medi-Cal covered benefit for counties that choose to provide this important service.
On August 31, the bill passed out of the Assembly unanimously, and the Senate (for concurrence) 36 – 1. The Governor has until the end of September to sign or veto bills!!!!
50+ organizations released a letter calling for the Governor’s signature on the bill, saying the legislation is “critical” as California faces a behavioral health pandemic driven by COVID-19.
“Peers have gone through crisis, learned resiliency tools to gain their own mental well-being, and are uniquely positioned to assist others in navigating crisis, which because of COVID 19, so many of us are. Peers have been and are now, at this time of national crisis, essential helpers,” comments Sally Zinman, Executive Director, California Association of Mental Health Peer Run Organizations.
Peers have described themselves as “first responders.”
Let the Governor know your opinion on peer certification coming to California.
See attached sample letter to the Governor. Also, attached is the group letter of over 50 organizations urging the Governor to sign SB 803, and a press release of the September 3 press conference featuring Sen. Jim Beall, Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Civil Rights Trailblazer Dolores Huerta with the bill’s co sponsors that called for Governor Newsom to Sign SB 803.
SB 803 (Beall) – Peer Support Specialist Certification Program passed the Senate on Special Consent 39 – 0 on Wednesday June 24. The bill is now in the Assembly, and will go to the Assembly Health Committee.
Write your support letters NOW, if you haven’t already. Please see attached template Support Letter, CAMHPRO’s Floor Alert, and Senator Beall’s SB 803 Fact Sheet.
State Peer/Family Certification 2nd Thursday at 12 noon
Please join us each month on the 2nd Thursday, at noon. CAMHPRO is changing the format of this monthly webinar again with a quarterly rotation of a Spotlight with a Guest Presenter of Model Peer Support Practices, Peer Support 4 Peer Supporters with a Guest Co-Facilitator, and Updates on CA Peer Certification.
We will invite other counties/agencies or states to present on their peer specialist service practices to demonstrate what is working and what is possible for the State of California. We will also provide policy updates, progress and funding as they happen regarding national and state peer specialist standardization or certification.
California is the last of a handful of states without a State protocol for certification of peer support specialists!
Join the conversation!
These CAMHPRO webinars are funded by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under the State Consumer Network grant.
The FULL TEXT and ongoing status of the CA SB 803 (Beall-D) can be found and tracked at the following website: CA Legislative Information Click on ‘TRACK’, Create account with email and password only to choose to receive notices whenever there is action on the bill, for example it is in read on the CA Senate Floor, in Committee, passed, etc.
Information from the California Senate:Health Committee on hearings in today’s coronavirus environment.
Committee Website Teleconference Instructions:
Due to the statewide stay-at-home order and guidance on physical distancing, seating for committee hearings will be very limited for press and for the public. All are encouraged to watch our hearing from its live stream on the Senate’s website at https://www.senate.ca.gov/
We encourage the public to submit written testimony before the hearing through the position letter portal. Please note that any written testimony submitted to the committee is considered public comment and may be read into the record or reprinted.
The Capitol will be open for attendance of committee hearings, but the public is strongly encouraged to participate via the web portal or telephonically.
Information regarding a call-in option for testimony will be made available and updated the night prior to the hearing date.
Please note: In order for your testimony to be heard clearly, you must mute any devices you are using to live stream the committee hearing prior to calling into the teleconference service.
COVID-19 related Information and Resource links compiled by CAMHPRO staff PDF
UPDATES & NEWS Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California
U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
CA Dept. of Public Health (CADPH)
CA Local Health Services/Offices by County or City
Get Local Information by County Alerts
San Francisco Chronicle Online
CA Guidance Documents Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
New York Times Free Access to COVID-19 Coverage
World Health Organization (WHO) Kaiser Family Foundation
Substance Abuse & MH Services Admin (SAMHSA) COVID-19 Resources Tips on Social Distancing
SAMHSA virtual recovery resources
Employment options for workers who can’t work due to COVID-19 & for employers Resources & Chart
Employment Resource List
Unemployment, Reduced Hours, Lay-off, Care of children due to school closure?Apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits online EDD
Caring for Family Member with COVID-19 (medically certified) Apply for Paid Family Leave
Apply by phone, 8am-12pm, M-F:
English 1-800-300-5616
Spanish 1-800-326-8937
Cantonese 1-800-547-3506
Mandarin 1-866-303-0706
Vietnamese 1-800-547-2058 TTY 1-800-815-9387
Sick or Quarantined (medically certified) Apply for Disability Insurance (DI)
Low-Cost Utilities, Phone, Internet Access & Wi-Fi Hotspots Phone, Internet Access & Wi-Fi Hotspots CA Public Utilities Commission Consumer Programs COMCAST-Wi-Fi Hotspots free to all 2 months free internet access for low-income during COVID-19
CA Lifeline Program Reduced landline or cell phone cost if you qualify with a low income. Contact your phone company to apply.
AT&T Wi-Fi Hotspots free to all
Offers $10/mo. Internet Access if qualified. Pledged to not terminate services of any who can’t pay their bill due to COVID-19.
Expanded Health Coverage Covered California until June 30, 2020 Special Enrollment COVID-19
Medi-CAL & Covered CA allow Tele-health services
The OC Warmline – NAMI Orange County (714) 991-6412 Hours: 9am to 3am Monday-Friday; 10am to 3am on Saturday & Sunday Languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Farsi Interpreter Services available
Warm Line: Consumer to Consumer-The Meeting Place Clubhouse for San Diego residents only Toll Free: (800) 920-WARM (9276) and (619) 295-1055 Hours: 3:30 P.M. to 11:00 P.M., 7 days a week except Holidays.
Northern Valley Peer Run Talk Line Butte County, California–A confidential non-crisis peer support network. You are not alone, we are here to listen. Toll Free: 1-855-582-5554 Open 11:30 am-9:30 pm 7days/week 365 days/year
San Joaquin County BH Services Consumer Support Warm-Line 209-468-3585 Operating 24/7 since July of 2008. For local San Joaquin County residents only.
February 19, 2020
The Honorable Jim Beall
California State Senator
California State Capitol, Room 2082
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 803 (Beall): Mental health services: peer support specialist certification – SUPPORT
Dear Senator Beall: The California Association of Mental Health Peer Run Organizations (CAMHPRO) supports Senate Bill 806, which would establish a statewide certification program for peer support specialists and would provide the structure needed to maximize the federal match for peer services under Medi-Cal. CAMHPRO is proud to be a co-sponsor of SB 803.
CAMHPRO promotes the work and missions of peer-run organizations devoted to advocacy and empowerment for mental health consumers. CAMHPRO’s mission is to transform communities and the behavioral health care system throughout California to empower, support, and ensure the rights of consumers; eliminate stigma, and advance self-determination for all those affected by mental health issues.
In supporting a Peer Support Specialist Certification Program in California, CAMHPRO joins the formidable array of California organizations, counties and individuals advocating for growth in high quality peer/family support services and peer specialist career development. Through support of SB 803, we look to finally bring peer support specialist certification to California.
Programmatically, peer certification makes sense
Numerous research studies support the efficacy and cost effectiveness of peer specialist services. Peer services, as opposed to traditional services alone, lead to less inpatient services, decreased symptoms, increased coping skills and life satisfaction, reduced overall ongoing need for mental health services, and decreased substance use.
Across California, peers are already providing peer support services. However, there is no statewide scope of practice, standardized curriculum, training standards, supervision standards, or certification protocol. Few counties that provide peer support services require training prior to hire. The benefits of Peer Certification for peer support are obvious.
Peer certification:
Defines the service of peer support;
Provides a standardized scope of practice, values and ethics, and competencies;
Assures that practitioners receive standardized training and demonstrate competency;
Ensures that service recipients will receive the same quality of services regardless of where in California they live;
Provides a basis for the ability to bill Medi-Cal for services provided; and
Allows for portability of Certification between counties.
Peer Certification also makes good fiscal sense, and California is one of only two states in the nation without it.
In 2007, the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) sent a guidance letter to all State Medicaid Directors emphasizing, “peer support services are an evidence-based mental health model of care which consists of a qualified peer support provider who assists individuals with their recovery from mental illness and substance use disorders.” CMS encouraged states to establish a state certification process for training, credentialing, supervision and care coordination. (CMS, SMDL #07-011). This enables the use of federal Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) financial participation with a 50% match. Currently, 48 states, plus the District of Columbia and the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, have implemented protocols to certify peer specialists, enabling them to leverage Medicaid funds. However, California has not acted and Californians deserve better!
Initially funded by Department of Mental Health and then Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), California began an in-depth and focused look at peer certification in 2011.Substantial grassroots work has been done toward peer certification since 2012 and substantial government funds have already been invested into developing peer certification in California.
SB 803 makes sense from both a policy and fiscal perspective and will provide more comprehensive assistance to people in need. CAMHPRO is proud to be part of a statewide movement to bring California up to speed with the rest of the nation in recovery and resiliency services through a state protocol for Medi-CAL billing and certification of peer support specialists.
Sincerely,
Sally Zinman
Executive Director
CAMHPRO
sallyzinman@gmail.com
Visit our Policy Positions Page and view the newest material and evidence for Peer Positions.
Evidence for Peer Positions (2020) This document provides 4 detailed examples of fact-based evidence for Peer Support Specialists and the kind of work that’s available.
Forced treatment is coercive, has poorer results, higher costs and drives some consumers away from the MH system compared to voluntary community-based services.
Peer Support is recognized by the U.S. Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) as an evidenced based model of care
Peer Respitesshow statistically significant improvements in healing, empowerment, and satisfaction. Average psychiatric hospital costs were $1,057 for respite-users compared with $3,187 for non-users
Individual Placement & Supports (IPS) Supported Employment with Peer SpecialistsResearch from around the world, finds that overall IPS is more effective than other vocational rehabilitation services at providing competitive employment.
