Minnesota Peer Support & Medicaid Guide

Minnesota has a mature and increasingly formalized peer support system spanning mental health, substance use recovery, recovery community organizations, treatment programs, crisis services, housing, homelessness services, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and other community-based programs.

The state maintains two particularly important adult peer workforce pathways:

Mental Health Certified Peer Specialist, or CPS
Recovery Peer, the workforce designation used for Medicaid-covered substance use disorder Peer Recovery Support Services

These roles operate under different statutory and Medicaid structures and should not be treated as interchangeable.

Minnesota has covered mental health Certified Peer Specialist services through Medical Assistance for many years. The state’s substance use peer recovery infrastructure has also expanded substantially, including direct pathways for qualifying Recovery Community Organizations, or RCOs, to deliver Peer Recovery Support Services.

Minnesota made significant changes to substance use disorder services in 2026. Current state guidance distinguishes peer recovery support from the newly defined recovery support service. Peer recovery remains a nonclinical service delivered by a recovery peer primarily using lived experience, while recovery support is delivered by a behavioral health practitioner and focuses more directly on skill development and restoring functioning. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Minnesota Peer Support Quick Facts

Category	Minnesota overview
State Medicaid program	Minnesota Medical Assistance
State behavioral health authority	Minnesota Department of Human Services
Mental health peer credential	Mental Health Certified Peer Specialist
Common abbreviation	CPS
CPS levels	Level I and Level II
SUD peer workforce role	Recovery Peer
SUD Medicaid service	Peer Recovery Support Services
Mental health CPS minimum age	21 under current DHS public guidance
CPS continuing education	30 hours every two years
Level II experience pathway	Mental Health Practitioner qualification or qualifying supervised experience
SUD peer service structure	Individual, one-to-one peer recovery support
SUD peer code	H0038 with U8 under current 2026 guidance
2026 SUD peer rate	$15.02 per 15-minute unit under July 2026 DHS guidance
Recovery Community Organizations	May participate in Minnesota’s peer recovery service infrastructure when requirements are met
Recovery plan	Required for RCO or county peer recovery services
Major 2026 change	New SUD service framework effective July 2026
Recovery residence certification	Effective July 1, 2026
Last reviewed	August 2026

Minnesota’s current substance use peer framework is particularly important because it creates detailed requirements around recovery plans, documentation, supervision, service relationships, and organizational structure. (Revisor.mn)

What Is Peer Support in Minnesota?

Peer support uses lived experience to help another person pursue their own recovery, wellness, independence, and community goals.

Minnesota’s peer workforce spans both mental health and substance use recovery.

Depending on the role, peers may:

Build trusting relationships
Share relevant lived experience
Promote hope
Help participants identify strengths
Support self-advocacy
Help participants develop recovery goals
Support person-centered planning
Help people navigate services
Connect participants with community resources
Support natural supports
Promote community integration
Support treatment engagement
Help participants develop recovery capital
Facilitate peer groups where permitted
Support transitions
Model recovery and wellness
Help participants build routines
Document services
Participate on multidisciplinary teams

Peer support remains distinct from psychotherapy, diagnosis, clinical assessment, and other licensed professional services.

Minnesota’s 2026 SUD guidance makes this distinction particularly clear. Peer recovery is nonclinical support designed to promote recovery goals, self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, and natural supports. The recovery peer primarily uses lived experience to help the client maintain recovery and navigate their recovery journey. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

How Peer Support Is Organized in Minnesota

Minnesota’s peer workforce can be broadly divided into:

Mental Health Certified Peer Specialists
Recovery Peers providing substance use Peer Recovery Support Services
Peer workers in community and grant-funded recovery programs
Peer staff in housing and homelessness programs
Peer workers within Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and other integrated behavioral health programs

The distinction between mental health CPS services and SUD Peer Recovery Support Services is important.

They operate under different:

Statutes
Qualifications
Service definitions
Supervision requirements
Documentation structures
Provider requirements
Medicaid billing pathways

An organization should identify which service it is delivering before determining workforce and billing requirements.

Mental Health Certified Peer Specialists

What Is a Certified Peer Specialist?

A Minnesota Certified Peer Specialist is a person with lived experience of mental illness who receives state-approved training to work as direct service mental health staff.

Minnesota DHS describes Certified Peer Specialists as people who use lived experience, recovery, and their personal stories to provide support and hope to other people experiencing mental illness. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Certified Peer Specialists may help people:

Discover strengths
Develop recovery goals
Build self-advocacy
Develop wellness strategies
Increase independence
Navigate mental health services
Connect with community resources
Develop natural supports
Participate in community life
Build hope
Pursue person-centered goals

Within Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services, Minnesota describes CPS services as a nonclinical approach that helps people discover strengths and develop individualized recovery goals. The peer models wellness, personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and hope through appropriate sharing of lived experience. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Certified Peer Specialist Level I

Minnesota recognizes Certified Peer Specialist Level I.

Current DHS public guidance states that a Level I CPS must:

Be at least 21 years old
Have or have had a primary diagnosis of mental illness
Be a current or former recipient of mental health services
Be willing to share their recovery experience
Successfully complete DHS-approved Certified Peer Specialist training
Successfully complete the certification exam
Be certified by Minnesota DHS

(mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Applicants and employers should use current DHS certification materials because older state plan and statutory materials may reflect different age thresholds or historical requirements.

Certified Peer Specialist Level II

Minnesota also recognizes Certified Peer Specialist Level II.

A Level II CPS must meet Level I qualifications and satisfy at least one additional pathway.

Current DHS guidance identifies the following options:

Qualify at the Mental Health Practitioner level under Minnesota law
Have at least 6,000 hours of supervised experience delivering peer services to people with mental illness
Have at least 4,000 hours of supervised experience delivering services to people with mental illness plus another 2,000 hours of supervised peer service experience

(mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Level II therefore recognizes more experienced peer professionals and peers who separately meet Mental Health Practitioner qualifications.

CPS Continuing Education

Minnesota requires Certified Peer Specialists to maintain continuing education.

Current DHS guidance requires 30 hours of continuing education in:

Mental health recovery
Mental health rehabilitative services
Peer support

(mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

State plan materials specify 30 hours every two years. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Organizations should track continuing education rather than simply recording the initial CPS certification.

CPS Supervision

Minnesota establishes detailed supervision requirements for Medicaid mental health Certified Peer Specialists.

State plan requirements include:

Documented monthly individual clinical supervision during the first 2,000 work hours
18 hours of documented field supervision during the first 160 hours of recipient contact work
At least six hours of field supervision quarterly during the following year
Review and co-signature of recipient-contact charting during applicable field supervision
Continuing education requirements

(mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Organizations should distinguish this required supervision structure from informal peer mentoring or general administrative management.

Where Can Certified Peer Specialists Work?

Minnesota DHS identifies Certified Peer Specialists as eligible paid team members within several major Medicaid mental health services, including:

Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services
Assertive Community Treatment
Crisis Residential Services
Intensive Residential Treatment Services
Mental Health Crisis Services

Certified Peer Specialists may also work in non-direct-service peer positions such as:

Drop-in centers
Peer support warmlines

DHS also notes that peers may be employed as case manager associates. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Medicaid Coverage of Mental Health Peer Support

Minnesota Medical Assistance covers qualifying mental health Certified Peer Specialist services.

Minnesota Statutes section 256B.0615 establishes Medical Assistance coverage when services are delivered to eligible recipients through qualifying programs and by appropriately qualified mental health Certified Peer Specialists. (Revisor.mn)

Peer support may be available within services including:

Intensive Residential Treatment Services
Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services
Crisis stabilization
Mobile mental health crisis intervention

Minnesota also establishes a process for certification of peer support specialist programs so qualifying programs can bill reimbursable services. (Revisor.mn)

Substance Use Peer Recovery Support Services

Minnesota maintains a separate peer service infrastructure for people with substance use disorders.

The state uses the term Peer Recovery Support Services for this Medicaid service.

Minnesota law defines Peer Recovery Support Services as one-to-one interactions between a recovery peer and a client in which the peer and client discuss and address goals identified in an applicable:

Individual recovery plan
Treatment plan
Stabilization plan

(Revisor.mn)

The purpose of Peer Recovery Support Services is to promote:

Recovery goals
Self-sufficiency
Self-advocacy
Natural supports
Maintenance of recovery

(Revisor.mn)

What Does a Minnesota Recovery Peer Do?

A Recovery Peer uses lived experience to support another person’s recovery.

Current 2026 DHS guidance describes peer recovery as nonclinical support in which the recovery peer primarily uses lived experience to:

Support recovery goals
Promote self-sufficiency
Promote self-advocacy
Develop natural supports
Support maintenance of recovery
Help the client navigate their recovery journey

(mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Depending on the program, a Recovery Peer may also:

Help identify strengths
Support recovery planning
Help participants identify resources
Connect participants with community supports
Support treatment engagement
Help participants navigate systems
Support housing or employment goals
Help participants build recovery capital
Connect participants with mutual support
Support multiple pathways to recovery
Help participants develop routines
Provide encouragement
Support transitions

The service should remain peer-based rather than becoming clinical counseling or generic case management.

2026 Minnesota SUD Service Changes

Minnesota substantially changed its Medicaid SUD service structure in 2026.

Under the updated framework, Minnesota distinguishes among several services that might previously have been operationally blended.

Peer Recovery Support

Peer Recovery Support is:

Nonclinical
Delivered by a recovery peer
Primarily grounded in lived experience
Focused on recovery goals, self-sufficiency, self-advocacy, natural supports, and recovery maintenance
Delivered one-to-one

Recovery Support

Recovery Support is a different service.

DHS describes Recovery Support as assistance restoring daily living abilities affected by substance use, developing skills and routines for community integration, and restoring functioning and stability.

It is delivered by a behavioral health practitioner, primarily using skill-based techniques. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

This distinction is important.

A Minnesota organization should not treat “Recovery Support” and “Peer Recovery Support” as interchangeable terms in documentation, staffing, or billing.

Peer Recovery Must Be Individual

Current Minnesota law requires Medicaid Peer Recovery Support Services under this framework to occur one-to-one.

The statute defines the service as face-to-face interaction between a recovery peer and a client on a one-to-one basis. (Revisor.mn)

Current 2026 DHS guidance similarly states that Peer Recovery must be provided on a one-to-one basis. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

This is particularly important for organizations offering peer groups.

A peer-led group may be valuable and may be funded through another mechanism, but organizations should not assume that group peer support qualifies as Medicaid Peer Recovery Support under the dedicated SUD benefit.

Individual Recovery Plans

Minnesota establishes detailed recovery plan requirements for Peer Recovery Support Services provided through Recovery Community Organizations and counties.

An Individual Recovery Plan must be developed with the client and completed within the first three sessions with a recovery peer. (Revisor.mn)

The plan must include information such as:

Client name
Recovery peer name
Recovery peer supervisor
Client recovery goals
Resources and assets supporting recovery
Activities that may support identified goals

The recovery peer must document how each peer session relates to the individual’s recovery plan.

The plan must be updated when needed. (Revisor.mn)

This creates a significant documentation responsibility for Minnesota RCOs providing Medicaid peer services.

Treatment and Stabilization Plans

The required plan depends on where the Peer Recovery Support Service is delivered.

Minnesota law establishes:

Recovery Community Organization or county: Individual recovery plan
Chapter 245G SUD treatment program: Treatment plan
Chapter 245F withdrawal management program: Stabilization plan

(Revisor.mn)

Organizations should configure peer documentation around the correct plan type rather than using one generic workflow across all settings.

Voluntary Participation

Minnesota explicitly requires participation in Peer Recovery Support Services to be voluntary.

Programs incorporating the service must provide written notice to clients that Peer Recovery Support Services will be provided. (Revisor.mn)

This requirement reflects the voluntary and relationship-based nature of peer support.

Relationship Restrictions

Minnesota law places boundaries around the relationship between a Recovery Peer and client.

A Recovery Peer may not provide Peer Recovery Support Services to a client who:

Resides with the Recovery Peer
Is employed by the Recovery Peer

(Revisor.mn)

Organizations should include these restrictions in:

Peer assignment
Conflict-of-interest policies
Intake workflows
Staff training
Compliance monitoring

Recovery Community Organizations

Recovery Community Organizations play a particularly important role in Minnesota’s peer recovery system.

Minnesota law expressly recognizes RCO-delivered Peer Recovery Support Services and establishes an Individual Recovery Plan specifically for services provided by RCOs and counties. (Revisor.mn)

This creates a pathway for peer-led and recovery-focused community organizations to participate in formal Medicaid service delivery when they satisfy applicable requirements.

An RCO should not assume that nonprofit status or recovery programming alone creates billing eligibility.

Organizations still need to satisfy applicable requirements involving:

Organizational eligibility
Minnesota Health Care Programs enrollment
Recovery Peer qualifications
Supervision
Recovery planning
Documentation
Medical Assistance eligibility
Service authorization or utilization management where applicable
Claims submission
Current state requirements

Minnesota Medicaid Peer Recovery Code

Under Minnesota’s July 2026 SUD service structure, DHS identifies:

Service	Code	Current base rate
Peer Recovery Support	H0038 with U8	$15.02
Individual Recovery Support	H2017 with U8	$13.51
Group Recovery Support	H2017 with U8 HQ	$7.92

These rates are based on 15-minute units under current DHS guidance. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Organizations should verify the current DHS rate schedule before billing because rates and coding requirements may change.

The distinction between H0038 U8 and H2017 U8 is particularly important.

H0038 U8 represents Peer Recovery Support delivered by a Recovery Peer.

H2017 U8 represents Recovery Support delivered under a different workforce and service definition.

Peer Recovery vs. Recovery Support

Area	Peer Recovery Support	Recovery Support
Primary worker	Recovery Peer	Behavioral Health Practitioner
Core method	Lived experience	Skill-based techniques
Clinical nature	Nonclinical	Rehabilitative/skill-based
Primary purpose	Recovery goals, self-advocacy, natural supports, recovery maintenance	Restore functioning, daily living ability, routines, community integration
Individual code	H0038 U8	H2017 U8
2026 base rate	$15.02/15 min	$13.51/15 min
Group option under 2026 structure	No dedicated peer recovery group service	H2017 U8 HQ

(mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Organizations should train both staff and billing teams on this distinction.

Can an Individual Recovery Peer Bill Minnesota Medicaid Independently?

Do not assume so.

Being qualified as a Recovery Peer does not automatically establish an individual’s authority to enroll independently and submit Medical Assistance claims.

Minnesota’s Peer Recovery Support Services operate through eligible organizations and provider structures.

Depending on the service setting, this may include:

Recovery Community Organizations
Counties
Chapter 245G SUD treatment programs
Chapter 245F withdrawal management programs
Other qualifying providers

The organization and individual worker must independently meet applicable requirements.

Utilization Management Changes

Minnesota’s SUD system continues to evolve.

Current Behavioral Health Administration guidance states that SUD providers and RCOs providing SUD Peer Support Services need to use the state’s utilization management infrastructure for applicable questions and processes as reviews began January 1, 2026. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Organizations providing Medicaid Peer Recovery Support should therefore monitor current DHS and utilization management guidance rather than relying solely on older Direct Access processes.

Mental Health Peer Support vs. SUD Peer Recovery

Area	Mental Health CPS	SUD Recovery Peer
Primary population	People with mental illness	People in substance use recovery
Core qualification	Mental Health Certified Peer Specialist	Recovery Peer qualification
State authority	Minnesota DHS	Minnesota DHS
Medicaid coverage	Yes, through qualifying mental health services	Yes, through qualifying SUD peer recovery structures
Core approach	Mental health recovery lived experience	Substance use recovery lived experience
Service planning	Mental health service plan structure	Recovery plan, treatment plan, or stabilization plan
Group structure	Depends on underlying mental health service	Dedicated Peer Recovery Support is one-to-one
Clinical role	Nonclinical	Nonclinical

A person may have lived experience relevant to both roles, but qualification under one framework should not automatically be assumed to satisfy the other.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Minnesota’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are required to maintain broad behavioral health service capabilities.

Current Minnesota DHS CCBHC guidance specifically includes peer, family support, and counselor services and requires clinics to comply with applicable Minnesota peer service standards. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

CCBHCs may therefore employ or contract with multiple peer workforce types depending on the population and services delivered.

Recovery Residences

Minnesota made major changes to recovery residence policy in 2026.

Beginning July 1, 2026, Minnesota implemented its new Certified Recovery Residence structure.

The state recognizes:

Level 1 Certified Recovery Residences, which are peer-run
Level 2 Certified Recovery Residences, which are monitored and managed by someone other than residents

(mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Level 1 Recovery Residences

Level 1 residences are peer-run and managed by residents.

Only unpaid staff may live and work within the residence, and decisions are made by residents.

Minnesota specifically states that staff or peers of a Level 1 Certified Recovery Residence must not provide billable Peer Recovery Support Services to residents of the residence. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Level 2 Recovery Residences

Level 2 residences are staff-managed.

They must have paid staff who model and teach recovery skills and behaviors and maintain requirements involving:

Job descriptions
Staff qualifications
Performance development
Emergency procedures
Resident rights
Grievances
Ethics
House meetings
Peer supports
Recovery goals
Community resources
Referrals

However, staff of a Level 2 Certified Recovery Residence also must not provide billable peer support services to residents of that residence. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

This is a particularly important compliance distinction for Minnesota recovery housing operators.

2026 Recovery Residence Transition

The Minnesota Legislature accelerated the recovery residence certification timeline in 2026.

Certification became effective July 1, 2026.

Level 2 Certified Recovery Residences also became eligible to participate in the Housing Support Program beginning July 1, 2026 when applicable requirements are met. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Minnesota’s older Free Standing Room and Board model is being phased out.

Existing FSRB reimbursement continues only through December 31, 2026, subject to applicable requirements. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Recovery organizations operating housing should therefore distinguish among:

Recovery residence certification
Housing Support
Room and board
Peer Recovery Support Services
Treatment

These are separate services and funding structures.

Peer Support and Homelessness Services

Minnesota’s Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, or PATH, infrastructure also uses peer professionals.

DHS identifies both:

Certified Peer Specialists
Peer Recovery Specialists

among workers that PATH agencies may use to provide recovery-oriented, person-centered services and connect people experiencing homelessness with community behavioral health services. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

This demonstrates the breadth of Minnesota’s peer workforce beyond traditional treatment settings.

Peer Support and Justice-Involved Populations

Minnesota also recognizes peer professionals within Officer-Involved Community-Based Care Coordination.

Current state guidance recognizes both:

Mental Health Certified Peer Specialists
Qualified Recovery Peers

as potential members of the workforce under applicable supervision requirements. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Peer professionals may therefore play a role in:

Justice diversion
Reentry
Behavioral health engagement
Recovery navigation
Community stabilization

Program-specific requirements should be reviewed independently.

Scope of Practice

Minnesota peer professionals generally provide nonclinical, recovery-oriented support grounded in lived experience.

Depending on the service, peers may:

Engage participants
Build relationships
Share relevant lived experience
Support recovery goals
Support self-advocacy
Identify strengths
Support person-centered planning
Develop natural supports
Navigate behavioral health systems
Connect participants with resources
Support treatment engagement
Support recovery maintenance
Support community integration
Facilitate permitted peer activities
Participate on care teams
Document services

Activities Generally Outside Peer Scope

Unless separately qualified and authorized under another professional role, peers generally should not:

Diagnose behavioral health conditions
Provide psychotherapy
Prescribe medication
Provide medical advice as a licensed healthcare professional
Conduct clinical assessments requiring licensure
Make involuntary treatment decisions
Represent themselves as licensed clinicians
Independently alter clinical treatment plans
Determine Medicaid eligibility
Make legal determinations

Organizations should establish clear role descriptions and escalation protocols.

Documentation for Minnesota Peer Recovery Support

Minnesota’s SUD Peer Recovery Support requirements make documentation particularly important.

For RCO and county services, the Individual Recovery Plan must be developed with the client within the first three sessions.

The Recovery Peer must then document how each session connects to the participant’s Individual Recovery Plan. (Revisor.mn)

A strong Peer Recovery Support note may include:

Client name or identifier
Date of service
Start and end time
Duration
Service location
Recovery Peer
Supervisor
Recovery goal addressed
Peer intervention
Relevant use of lived experience
Recovery activity
Natural supports discussed
Resource navigation
Participant response
Progress toward recovery goal
Follow-up
Connection to the Individual Recovery Plan
Required signature or attestation

Documentation Should Be

Accurate
Timely
Person-centered
Recovery-oriented
Strengths-based
Specific
Respectful
Connected to the participant’s goals
Consistent with peer scope
Consistent with the applicable recovery, treatment, or stabilization plan

Documentation Should Avoid

Unsupported diagnoses
Clinical interpretations outside peer scope
Stigmatizing language
Identical copied notes
Unnecessary trauma details
Generic descriptions such as “provided peer support”
Services that did not occur
Personal opinions presented as clinical facts
Documentation written solely to fit a billing code

Documentation and Billing Are Not the Same Thing

A complete Peer Recovery Support note does not automatically establish that the service is payable.

A Medicaid claim may additionally depend on:

Medical Assistance eligibility
Provider enrollment
Organizational eligibility
Recovery Peer qualifications
Supervision
Individual Recovery Plan
Treatment plan or stabilization plan
Voluntary participation
Written notice
Service relationship restrictions
Correct code
Correct modifier
Correct units
Utilization management
Timely filing
Current Minnesota Medicaid requirements

Organizations should separately validate:

Whether the service occurred
Whether documentation accurately reflects it
Whether the service meets the Peer Recovery Support definition
Whether the organization may bill for it
Whether the claim satisfies current Minnesota requirements

Minnesota peer programs may handle sensitive mental health and substance use information.

Applicable requirements may include:

HIPAA
42 CFR Part 2
Minnesota health records law
Minnesota Medical Assistance requirements
DHS requirements
Organizational privacy policies
Consent and authorization requirements

Peer workers should receive role-specific training covering:

What information they may access
What should be documented
What may be shared
Participant consent
Substance use records
Communication with care teams
Text messaging
Email
Telehealth
Social media
Crisis situations
Legal requests

Organizations should obtain qualified legal and compliance guidance for their specific services.

Starting a Peer Support Program in Minnesota

Organizations developing peer services in Minnesota should first determine whether they are building a mental health peer program, an SUD peer recovery program, or another community peer model.

Step 1: Define the Population

Determine whether the program serves:

Adults with mental illness
People with substance use disorders
People with co-occurring conditions
People leaving treatment
People in recovery housing
People experiencing homelessness
Justice-involved populations
People receiving crisis services
Other defined populations

Step 2: Determine the Peer Workforce

Determine whether staff need to be:

Mental Health Certified Peer Specialists Level I
Mental Health Certified Peer Specialists Level II
Recovery Peers
Another applicable peer workforce type

Step 3: Determine the Provider Structure

For SUD Peer Recovery Support, determine whether services are being provided through a:

Recovery Community Organization
County
Chapter 245G SUD treatment program
Chapter 245F withdrawal management program
Other qualifying provider

Step 4: Determine the Required Plan

Use the appropriate planning structure:

Individual Recovery Plan for qualifying RCO or county services
Treatment Plan for Chapter 245G treatment
Stabilization Plan for Chapter 245F withdrawal management

Step 5: Establish Supervision

Define:

Supervisor qualifications
Frequency
Documentation
Peer practice support
Clinical escalation
Administrative supervision
Staff wellness support

For mental health CPS services, organizations should carefully review Minnesota’s specific clinical and field supervision requirements.

Step 6: Build the Workflow

Map:

Referral
Eligibility
Intake
Written notice
Consent
Peer assignment
Conflict checks
Recovery planning
Scheduling
Service delivery
Documentation
Supervision
Follow-up
Outcomes
Utilization management
Billing

Step 7: Establish Role Boundaries

Create policies covering:

Use of lived experience
Scope of practice
Confidentiality
Dual relationships
Participant employment relationships
Living arrangements
Transportation
Gifts
Social media
Communication outside work
Crisis escalation
Recovery residence boundaries
Staff wellness
Role drift

Step 8: Track Workforce Compliance

Track:

CPS certification
CPS level
Continuing education
Recovery Peer qualification
Supervisor
Training
Background studies where applicable
Service-specific qualifications
Employment status

Step 9: Measure Outcomes

Potential measures include:

Referral-to-contact time
Engagement
Retention
Recovery capital
Recovery goal progress
Self-advocacy
Natural supports
Community connection
Treatment engagement
Housing stability
Recovery stability
Participant satisfaction
Peer workforce retention
Documentation timeliness
Supervision completion

Step 10: Verify Current Billing Requirements

Before billing, verify requirements through:

Minnesota DHS
Minnesota Health Care Programs
Current SUD service guidance
Current rate schedules
Applicable statutes
Utilization management guidance
Provider enrollment materials
Qualified billing and compliance professionals

Common Challenges for Minnesota Peer Programs

Mental Health vs. SUD Peer Requirements

Minnesota has distinct peer systems for mental health and substance use recovery.

Organizations serving both populations may need separate credential, documentation, supervision, and billing workflows.

2026 SUD Changes

Minnesota substantially restructured SUD services in 2026.

Organizations must understand the difference between:

Peer Recovery Support
Recovery Support
Treatment Coordination
Counseling
Psychoeducation

Using outdated service definitions may create documentation and billing problems. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

RCO Compliance

Minnesota gives RCOs an important role in formal Peer Recovery Support Services, but Medicaid participation creates operational responsibilities.

RCOs need systems for:

Recovery plans
Peer qualifications
Supervision
Documentation
Eligibility
Utilization management
Claims
Outcomes

Recovery Residence Boundaries

Minnesota’s new Certified Recovery Residence model creates explicit boundaries between housing staff and billable peer support.

Recovery residence operators should not assume their own staff can bill Peer Recovery Support Services to residents. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Documentation Burden

Minnesota’s recovery plan requirements create meaningful documentation obligations for RCOs.

Poorly designed workflows can shift peer time away from relationship building.

Workforce Supervision

Mental health CPS programs have detailed supervision requirements, while SUD peer programs have their own supervisory structures.

Organizations need systems capable of distinguishing different supervision requirements.

Fragmented Technology

Programs may use separate systems for:

Referral
Intake
Recovery plans
Scheduling
Documentation
Supervision
Credential tracking
Participant communication
Outcomes
Utilization management
Claims
Grant reporting

This creates administrative burden for peers and supervisors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Minnesota’s mental health peer credential?

Minnesota uses the Mental Health Certified Peer Specialist credential, with Level I and Level II classifications. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

What is Minnesota’s substance use peer role?

Minnesota uses qualified Recovery Peers to deliver Peer Recovery Support Services.

Does Minnesota Medicaid cover peer support?

Yes.

Minnesota Medical Assistance covers qualifying mental health Certified Peer Specialist services and qualifying SUD Peer Recovery Support Services. (Revisor.mn)

What are Minnesota’s two Certified Peer Specialist levels?

Minnesota recognizes:

Certified Peer Specialist Level I
Certified Peer Specialist Level II

Level II requires Level I qualifications plus additional practitioner qualification or supervised experience. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

How much continuing education does a CPS need?

Minnesota requires 30 hours of continuing education every two years in relevant recovery, rehabilitative service, and peer support topics. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Can an RCO provide Medicaid Peer Recovery Support Services?

Minnesota law specifically establishes Peer Recovery Support requirements for services delivered by Recovery Community Organizations.

The RCO must satisfy all applicable organizational, workforce, documentation, enrollment, and Medicaid requirements. (Revisor.mn)

Does an RCO need an Individual Recovery Plan?

Yes, for Peer Recovery Support Services governed by Minnesota’s RCO recovery-plan requirements.

The plan must be developed with the client and completed within the first three sessions. (Revisor.mn)

Does every peer session need to connect to the recovery plan?

Minnesota law requires the Recovery Peer to document how each session ties to the client’s Individual Recovery Plan. (Revisor.mn)

Is Peer Recovery Support voluntary?

Yes.

Minnesota requires voluntary participation and written notice that Peer Recovery Support Services will be provided. (Revisor.mn)

Can Peer Recovery Support be delivered in groups?

Under the current dedicated SUD Peer Recovery Support definition, no.

Minnesota defines the service as one-to-one interaction between a Recovery Peer and client. (Revisor.mn)

What is the Medicaid code for SUD Peer Recovery Support?

Current July 2026 DHS guidance identifies H0038 with modifier U8. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

What is the current Minnesota Peer Recovery Support rate?

Current July 2026 DHS guidance identifies a base rate of $15.02 per 15-minute unit for H0038 U8. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Organizations should verify the current rate before billing.

What is Recovery Support?

Recovery Support is a separate Minnesota SUD service delivered by a behavioral health practitioner and focused on restoring functioning, daily living ability, routines, and community integration.

It is not the same service as Peer Recovery Support. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

What code is used for individual Recovery Support?

Current 2026 guidance identifies H2017 U8, with a base rate of $13.51 per 15-minute unit. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Can Recovery Support be delivered in groups?

Yes. Current guidance identifies H2017 U8 HQ for group Recovery Support. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Can a Recovery Peer provide services to someone who lives with them?

No.

Minnesota prohibits a Recovery Peer from providing Peer Recovery Support Services to a client who resides with the peer. (Revisor.mn)

Can a Recovery Peer provide services to someone they employ?

No.

Minnesota prohibits Peer Recovery Support Services when the client is employed by the Recovery Peer. (Revisor.mn)

Can recovery residence staff bill peer support to residents?

Minnesota’s new Certified Recovery Residence rules state that staff or peers of Level 1 and staff of Level 2 Certified Recovery Residences must not provide billable Peer Recovery Support Services to residents of the residence. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

When did Minnesota’s Certified Recovery Residence system begin?

Certification became effective July 1, 2026. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Can Certified Peer Specialists work in ARMHS?

Yes. Minnesota specifically recognizes Certified Peer Specialists as part of Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Can Certified Peer Specialists work on ACT teams?

Yes. Minnesota DHS identifies Assertive Community Treatment among the services in which CPS professionals may work as paid team members. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Can Certified Peer Specialists work in crisis services?

Yes.

Minnesota recognizes CPS participation in several crisis service settings. (mn.gov // Minnesota’s State Portal)

Are peers clinicians?

No.

Peer credentials and Recovery Peer qualifications do not themselves constitute clinical professional licensure.

Official Minnesota Peer Support Resources

Mental Health Peer Certification

Minnesota DHS Certified Peer Specialists

Official Minnesota Department of Human Services resource describing Certified Peer Specialist Levels I and II, eligibility, certification, continuing education, and employment settings.