Montana Peer Support & Medicaid Guide

Montana has a state-regulated behavioral health peer support profession serving people with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, co-occurring conditions, and families.

The state’s primary professional peer credential is the Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist, commonly abbreviated CBHPSS.

Unlike states where peer credentials are issued primarily by a nonprofit credentialing board, Montana regulates behavioral health peer support through the Montana Board of Behavioral Health, part of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

Montana established formal state certification for behavioral health peer support specialists in 2017. The state subsequently added Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Services to Medicaid, creating a formal reimbursement pathway for qualifying mental health and substance use disorder peer services. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Montana is also expanding Family Peer Support. Family Peer Support Specialist certification became a professional pathway following legislation enacted in 2025, and the state is currently implementing family peer support pilots through its Children’s Mental Health Bureau. (DPHHS)

Montana Peer Support Quick Facts

Category	Montana overview
State Medicaid program	Montana Medicaid
State behavioral health authority	Montana DPHHS Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division
Peer regulatory authority	Montana Board of Behavioral Health
Primary peer credential	Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist
Abbreviation	CBHPSS
Credential type	State certification
Foundational training	40-hour approved peer support education program
Training examination	Required
Lived experience	Behavioral health disorder
Recovery requirement	Generally at least 2 years in recovery under published certification guidance
Supervision	Required
Background check	Required
Renewal	Annual
Continuing education	20 hours annually under published certification guidance
Medicaid peer coverage	Yes
Mental health peer benefit	Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Services
Substance use peer benefit	Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Services
Family peer credential	Family Peer Support Specialist
Family peer foundational training	40-hour qualifying course under current state guidance
Medicaid family peer expansion	Pilot implementation underway
Last reviewed	August 2026

What Is Peer Support in Montana?

Montana’s peer support model is based on the idea that people who have personally experienced behavioral health challenges and recovery can use that experience to support other people.

The state’s Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division describes peer support as an important recovery service delivered by people with lived experience of mental health or substance use disorders who have successfully maintained their recovery. Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists help people navigate treatment and recovery through a relationship based on mutual understanding. (DPHHS)

Peer professionals may help people:

Develop recovery goals
Build hope
Identify strengths
Develop coping skills
Navigate treatment
Connect with community resources
Build natural supports
Strengthen self-advocacy
Develop wellness strategies
Build recovery capital
Navigate housing and employment resources
Engage with treatment
Maintain recovery
Transition between levels of care
Connect with recovery communities
Develop independent living skills
Facilitate peer groups
Build meaningful community relationships

Peer support is distinct from psychotherapy or other licensed clinical treatment.

The defining expertise of a peer specialist comes from lived experience combined with formal training, certification, ethics, supervision, and professional practice.

Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist

The Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist, or CBHPSS, is Montana’s primary state-recognized peer credential.

Certification is regulated by the Montana Board of Behavioral Health.

The credential establishes professional standards involving:

Education and training
Lived experience
Recovery
Examination
Ethics
Supervision
Background screening
Continuing education
Professional conduct

Montana’s approach makes peer support a formally regulated behavioral health profession rather than solely an employer-defined role.

Mental Health and Substance Use Peer Support

Montana’s CBHPSS credential spans behavioral health recovery rather than creating completely separate foundational credentials for mental health and substance use peers.

Montana’s peer workforce includes people with lived experience involving:

Mental illness
Substance use disorder
Addiction
Co-occurring behavioral health conditions

Montana’s Peer Network describes the state’s peer workforce as supporting people recovering from substance use, other addictions, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders. (Montana’s Peer Network)

This means a CBHPSS may potentially work across different behavioral health settings, subject to employer, payer, population, and program-specific requirements.

How to Become a Montana CBHPSS

Applicants should always verify the current requirements directly with the Montana Board of Behavioral Health before applying.

Published Montana peer workforce guidance identifies several major certification components.

Step 1: Meet the Lived Experience Requirement

A CBHPSS is a person with personal behavioral health lived experience.

Published Montana certification guidance requires the applicant to attest to having a behavioral health disorder. (Montana’s Peer Network)

The professional role therefore depends on lived experience rather than simply completing a peer support course.

Step 2: Demonstrate Recovery

Published Montana peer certification guidance identifies a recovery requirement.

Montana’s Peer Network currently describes the requirement as two years in recovery without behavioral-health-related hospitalization or incarceration. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Applicants should confirm the exact current Board language because licensure and certification rules may change.

Step 3: Complete Approved Peer Support Education

Published certification guidance requires completion of a 40-hour peer support education program.

The program must include an examination, and verification of successful completion must be provided to the Board. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Training completion itself does not create the state credential.

Step 4: Complete the Examination

The approved peer education program must include an examination.

For example, Montana’s Peer Network’s Peer Support 101 certification pathway includes coursework, in-person training, and a certification examination. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Organizations should distinguish between:

Completing peer training
Passing the training examination
Receiving state certification

These are not necessarily the same event.

Step 5: Establish Supervision

Applicants must submit applicable supervision documentation.

Published Montana guidance identifies:

Supervisor Agreement
Supervision Plan

as part of the certification process. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Supervision remains an important part of maintaining professional peer practice after certification.

Step 6: Complete the Recovery Narrative

Published certification guidance requires a narrative describing the applicant’s recovery from their behavioral health disorder. (Montana’s Peer Network)

The recovery narrative helps establish the lived-experience foundation of the professional peer role.

Step 7: Complete Legal and Health History Requirements

Applicants must complete applicable legal and health history disclosures required by the Board. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Step 8: Complete the Background Check

Published Montana guidance requires fingerprinting and a background check through the Montana Department of Justice. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Applicants should verify the current fee and fingerprinting procedure directly with the Board because fees may change.

Step 9: Apply to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health

After satisfying applicable requirements, the applicant submits the state certification application and fee to the Montana Board of Behavioral Health.

The Board, rather than the training organization, ultimately determines whether the applicant receives the CBHPSS credential.

Montana Peer Support Training

Montana allows qualifying peer support education programs that satisfy state standards.

One major training organization is Montana’s Peer Network, which has trained peer supporters in the state since before formal state certification was created.

Its current certification pathway includes:

Peer Support Foundations coursework
Certification-specific coursework
Required assignments
Three-day in-person training
Certification examination

(Montana’s Peer Network)

The organization also offers a separate Recovery Coaching pathway for people who want peer support skills but do not require formal state certification. (Montana’s Peer Network)

This distinction is important.

A person may receive recovery coaching or peer support training without necessarily becoming a Montana Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist.

Peer Support 101

Montana’s Peer Network has historically offered Peer Support 101, commonly called PS101, as a certification-oriented training program.

The curriculum includes topics such as:

Whole-health recovery
One-to-one peer support
Group facilitation
Ethics
Professional standards
Confidentiality
Stages of change
Recovery concepts
Core peer competencies
Recovery storytelling

(Montana’s Peer Network)

Training organizations may update their curriculum and delivery format, so prospective participants should use current training information rather than relying on historical PS101 schedules.

Certification vs. Recovery Coaching

Montana makes an important distinction between general recovery coaching and state-certified behavioral health peer support.

Montana’s Peer Network currently offers:

Recovery Coaching Pathway

Designed for people who want practical peer support skills but do not need formal certification.

Certification Pathway

Designed for people who need CBHPSS certification as a condition of employment. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Organizations should not assume that a recovery coaching certificate automatically satisfies Montana CBHPSS requirements.

CBHPSS Renewal

Montana’s CBHPSS credential must be maintained after initial certification.

Published Montana peer workforce guidance states that certification is renewed annually and expires on December 31. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Renewal requirements have included:

Continuing education
Supervision documentation
Continued recovery attestation
Renewal fee

Organizations should verify current Board rules each renewal cycle.

Continuing Education

Published Montana certification guidance identifies 20 hours of continuing education as part of annual CBHPSS renewal. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Montana’s Peer Network offers continuing education opportunities for CBHPSS professionals, including courses addressing topics such as:

Ethics
Trauma
Suicide intervention
Peer practice
Recovery
Professional development

(Montana’s Peer Network)

Employers should track:

Credential expiration
CE hours
Course completion
Training provider
Supervision
Renewal application
Renewal approval

Credential compliance should be treated as an ongoing workforce function rather than a one-time onboarding task.

CBHPSS Supervision

Supervision is a formal part of Montana’s peer certification structure.

Applicants must establish a supervision agreement and plan as part of certification under published guidance. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Effective supervision can address:

Peer ethics
Boundaries
Use of lived experience
Recovery orientation
Documentation
Role fidelity
Difficult participant interactions
Professional development
Staff wellness
Escalation of clinical issues
Organizational expectations

Supervision should support the peer role rather than convert the peer worker into an unlicensed clinician.

What Does a Montana CBHPSS Do?

Depending on the organization and service, a CBHPSS may:

Provide one-to-one peer support
Share relevant lived experience
Model recovery
Help people identify recovery goals
Develop coping strategies
Promote self-determination
Build natural supports
Help people navigate behavioral health services
Connect people with community resources
Promote wellness
Facilitate peer groups
Support recovery planning
Help participants develop independent living skills
Support treatment engagement
Support transitions
Promote community integration
Help people build recovery capital
Document services

Montana Medicaid’s adult mental health peer benefit specifically describes CBHPS as a one-to-one service promoting positive coping skills through mentoring and other activities supporting personal wellness and recovery. (DPHHS)

Family Peer Support in Montana

Montana is actively expanding Family Peer Support Services.

The state’s Children’s Mental Health Bureau launched Family Peer Support pilot sites in January 2025 as part of Montana’s broader Behavioral Health System for Future Generations initiative. (DPHHS)

The model connects parents, caregivers, and guardians with peers who have lived experience raising a child with mental health care needs.

Family peer support focuses on supporting the adults caring for children rather than providing clinical treatment to the child.

Family Peer Support Specialist

Montana now recognizes the Family Peer Support Specialist, or FPSS, as a professional peer role.

Montana Medicaid’s February 2026 member newsletter describes FPSS as a professional role for people with experience raising a young person with mental health challenges or special health care needs. (DPHHS)

Family peers use that experience to help other families access:

Emotional support
Resources
Navigation
Advocacy
Problem solving
Community connections
Family goals
Behavioral health systems

Family Peer Support Training

Current state guidance identifies a 40-hour course as part of the Family Peer Support Specialist pathway.

The Family Peers for Hope Family Peer Support 101 course is one training that meets Montana’s state certification standards. (DPHHS)

The training includes an examination.

Additional certification steps currently include:

Application
Certification fee
Background check

(DPHHS)

Certification is overseen through the Montana Board of Behavioral Health under the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. (DPHHS)

Family Peer Support Pilot

Montana’s Children’s Mental Health Bureau initially funded four Family Peer Support pilot sites in 2025:

AWARE
Mental Health America of Montana
Montana Rescue Mission
St. John’s United

(DPHHS)

The state continues to develop training, technical assistance, and implementation resources around the model.

Family peer support presentations and workforce development activities are scheduled to continue through at least May 2027. (DPHHS)

This makes family peer support an important emerging area of Montana’s peer services infrastructure.

Behavioral Health vs. Family Peer Support

Area	CBHPSS	Family Peer Support Specialist
Full name	Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist	Family Peer Support Specialist
Lived experience	Personal behavioral health recovery	Raising/caring for youth with behavioral health or related needs
Primary recipient	Person experiencing behavioral health condition	Parent, guardian, or caregiver
State certification	Yes	Yes
Regulatory authority	Montana Board of Behavioral Health	Montana Board of Behavioral Health
Foundational training	40-hour qualifying peer program	40-hour qualifying family peer program
Medicaid relevance	Established Medicaid peer benefit	Emerging through state family peer initiatives
Clinical credential	No	No

Organizations should not treat these roles as interchangeable because their lived-experience qualifications and service populations differ.

Is Peer Support Covered by Montana Medicaid?

Yes.

Montana Medicaid covers Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Services under applicable behavioral health benefits.

Montana’s 2026 Medicaid Member Guide specifically includes peer support among covered adult mental health services. (DPHHS)

Montana has separate Medicaid policy addressing peer support in:

Adult mental health
Substance use disorder services

The state’s Medicaid behavioral health provider manual includes:

Policy 415, Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Services, Mental Health
Policy 515, SUD Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Services, Adult

(DPHHS)

This distinction is operationally important because eligibility and service requirements may differ between mental health and substance use peer support.

Medicaid Mental Health Peer Support

Montana Medicaid defines Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support for adult mental health as a one-to-one service intended to promote positive coping skills through mentoring and other activities.

The service helps members work toward:

Health
Wellness
Self-directed living
Recovery
Personal goals
Full potential

(DPHHS)

The peer relationship is therefore intended to be recovery-oriented and goal-directed.

Mental Health Eligibility

Under Montana Medicaid’s published mental health CBHPS policy, the member must meet Severe and Disabling Mental Illness, or SDMI, criteria to qualify for that specific service. (DPHHS)

Organizations should not assume that every Medicaid member with a mental health diagnosis automatically qualifies for the Medicaid CBHPS benefit.

Eligibility and medical necessity requirements should be verified before service delivery and billing.

Who Can Provide Medicaid Mental Health Peer Support?

Montana Medicaid’s published mental health policy requires the service to be delivered by a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist certified by the Montana Board of Behavioral Health. (DPHHS)

This creates a direct connection between:

State certification → staff qualification → Medicaid reimbursement.

Simply completing peer support training is not enough when the Medicaid service specifically requires a state-certified CBHPSS.

Which Organizations Can Bill for Mental Health Peer Support?

Published Montana Medicaid policy states that qualifying mental health CBHPS services must be provided through specified provider organizations.

The 2023 policy identifies:

Licensed Mental Health Centers
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Rural Health Clinics
Urban Indian Health Centers
IHS Tribal 638 providers

(DPHHS)

Organizations should confirm the current provider manual before relying on this list because Montana’s Medicaid behavioral health system is undergoing broader changes.

Mental Health Center Requirements

Montana Medicaid’s published CBHPS policy requires participating Mental Health Centers to:

Ensure peer staff are certified by the Board of Behavioral Health
Maintain policies and procedures for initial and ongoing staff training
Maintain communication and coordination with the treatment team
Establish service frequency according to the member’s needs and preferences

(DPHHS)

This means peer support compliance involves more than simply checking whether an employee has a credential.

Organizations need systems supporting:

Credential verification
Training
Care-team coordination
Service planning
Documentation
Supervision

Medicaid Substance Use Peer Support

Montana Medicaid also maintains a dedicated SUD Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Services policy for adults.

The service appears as Policy 515 within Montana’s Medicaid Substance Use Disorder provider manual. (DPHHS)

Peer specialists working in substance use treatment and recovery organizations should use the SUD-specific policy rather than assuming the mental health CBHPS requirements apply identically.

This distinction may affect:

Participant eligibility
Provider type
Service planning
Documentation
Authorization
Billing
Medical necessity

Why Montana’s Medicaid Peer Benefit Matters

Montana formally added certified behavioral health peer support as a Medicaid benefit following state legislation.

The 2019 Legislature enacted Senate Bill 30 to fund certified behavioral health peer support as medical assistance under Montana Medicaid. (DPHHS)

The state continues to identify peer support as an important recovery service funded through Medicaid and federal grants. (DPHHS)

This makes peer support part of Montana’s formal behavioral health delivery infrastructure rather than solely a grant-funded community service.

Can an Individual CBHPSS Independently Bill Medicaid?

Organizations should not assume that CBHPSS certification creates independent Medicaid billing authority.

The credential establishes the worker’s professional qualification.

Medicaid reimbursement depends separately on:

Eligible member
Covered service
Qualified CBHPSS
Eligible provider organization
Medical necessity
Applicable treatment or service plan
Documentation
Authorization when required
Billing requirements

Published mental health policy specifically ties Medicaid CBHPS delivery to qualifying organizations. (DPHHS)

Individual certification and organizational Medicaid enrollment should therefore be treated as separate compliance requirements.

Scope of Practice

Montana CBHPSS professionals provide recovery-oriented behavioral health support based on lived experience.

Appropriate activities may include:

Peer mentoring
Recovery support
Goal setting
Coping skill development
Recovery education
Self-advocacy
Community resource navigation
Natural support development
Wellness planning
Recovery capital development
Treatment engagement
Community integration
Peer groups
Transition support
Recovery storytelling
Supporting self-directed recovery

The exact scope depends on:

State certification standards
Employer policy
Medicaid requirements
Participant needs
Funding source
Program type

Activities Generally Outside Peer Scope

Unless separately qualified under another professional license or credential, a CBHPSS generally should not:

Diagnose behavioral health disorders
Conduct psychotherapy
Prescribe medication
Provide medical advice
Perform clinical assessments requiring professional licensure
Make involuntary treatment decisions
Independently alter clinical treatment
Represent themselves as a licensed clinician
Determine Medicaid eligibility
Provide legal advice

Peers may participate in multidisciplinary behavioral health teams without becoming clinicians.

Recovery-Oriented Practice

Montana’s peer system is explicitly grounded in recovery.

The state’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council defines recovery as a process through which people improve health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Its Peer Recovery Subcommittee focuses on peer workforce development across Montana’s continuum of care. (DPHHS)

Peer programs should therefore emphasize:

Hope
Self-determination
Multiple pathways to recovery
Strengths
Community
Meaning
Wellness
Choice
Person-defined goals

rather than treating peers primarily as compliance or monitoring staff.

Peer Support for Substance Use Recovery

Montana’s peer workforce explicitly includes people with substance use recovery experience.

Peer specialists may support people with:

Treatment engagement
Recovery planning
Mutual support
Harm reduction
Recovery resources
Housing
Employment
Transportation
Community connection
Recovery capital
Wellness
Relapse prevention strategies within peer scope
Transition from treatment
Long-term recovery

The state identifies peer support as an important component of sustaining recovery from substance use and mental illness. (DPHHS)

Peer Support for Mental Health Recovery

CBHPSS professionals may also support people experiencing serious mental health conditions.

Medicaid-covered mental health peer services focus on mentoring and coping skills that help eligible members pursue personal wellness and recovery goals. (DPHHS)

Peer support may complement:

Therapy
Psychiatry
Case management
Community-based rehabilitation
Crisis services
Medication management
Other behavioral health services

while remaining a distinct lived-experience service.

Drop-In Centers

Montana supports community-based behavioral health drop-in centers.

The state reported eight drop-in centers operating across Montana in its 2025 legislative behavioral health presentation. (DPHHS)

These centers provide low-barrier, peer-oriented recovery services such as:

Support groups
Skill development
Supportive services
Referrals
Social connection
Community engagement

Drop-in centers demonstrate that peer support in Montana extends beyond Medicaid-billed clinical settings.

Recovery Residences

Montana also recognizes recovery housing as part of the recovery support continuum.

The state describes recovery residences as environments designed by and for people in recovery, with some higher-need residences incorporating peer recovery support or connecting residents with clinical and recovery services. (DPHHS)

Peer professionals in recovery housing may help residents:

Build recovery capital
Establish routines
Connect with services
Develop natural supports
Pursue employment
Engage with recovery communities
Navigate treatment

Funding and billing requirements should be evaluated separately from the CBHPSS credential itself.

Family Peer Support

Family Peer Support represents one of Montana’s most significant recent expansions of peer services.

The model recognizes that caregivers of children with behavioral health needs have their own lived experience and can support other families navigating similar challenges.

Family peers may help caregivers:

Navigate behavioral health services
Identify resources
Develop advocacy skills
Understand systems
Build confidence
Connect with other families
Develop goals
Address barriers
Reduce isolation
Navigate transitions

Family peer support should remain distinct from:

Family psychotherapy
Clinical case management
Legal advocacy
Child protective services
Professional clinical assessment

Documentation for Montana Peer Support

Peer documentation should demonstrate what happened during the service and how it supported the participant’s recovery.

A strong peer support note may include:

Participant identifier
Date
Start and end time
Duration
Location
Modality
CBHPSS name
Credential
Recovery goal addressed
Peer activity
Relevant use of lived experience
Coping skill addressed
Resource connection
Natural supports
Participant response
Progress
Follow-up
Connection to service or treatment plan
Required signature or attestation

Documentation Should Be

Accurate
Timely
Person-centered
Recovery-oriented
Strengths-based
Specific
Respectful
Relevant
Consistent with peer scope
Connected to participant goals
Consistent with Medicaid requirements when billed

Documentation Should Avoid

Unsupported diagnoses
Clinical interpretations outside peer scope
Stigmatizing language
Copy-and-paste notes
Generic statements such as “provided peer support”
Unnecessary sensitive information
Documentation of services that did not occur
Personal opinions presented as clinical facts
Language written solely to justify reimbursement

Documentation and Billing Are Not the Same Thing

A completed peer note does not automatically establish Medicaid reimbursement.

A claim may also depend on:

Medicaid eligibility
Covered service
Mental health or SUD benefit
Medical necessity
SDMI eligibility where applicable
CBHPSS certification
Provider organization eligibility
Service plan
Authorization
Correct code
Correct units
Documentation
Timely filing

Organizations should separately validate:

The participant qualifies for the service
The worker holds the required credential
The organization is eligible to provide the service
The service occurred
Documentation accurately describes the service
The claim satisfies current Medicaid requirements

Montana peer professionals may work with highly sensitive behavioral health information.

Applicable requirements may include:

HIPAA
42 CFR Part 2
Montana law
Medicaid requirements
Board of Behavioral Health standards
Employer policies
Consent and authorization requirements

Peer workers should receive training addressing:

Information access
Documentation
Care-team communication
Substance use records
Participant consent
Text messaging
Email
Telehealth
Social media
Crisis situations
Legal requests

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

Starting a Peer Support Program in Montana

Organizations developing peer services should first determine the population, funding source, and regulatory structure.

Step 1: Define the Population

Determine whether the program serves:

Adults with serious mental illness
People with substance use disorders
People with co-occurring conditions
Parents and caregivers
People leaving treatment
People living in recovery housing
People using community recovery services
Other behavioral health populations

Step 2: Determine the Required Peer Role

Identify whether the program needs:

Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists
Family Peer Support Specialists
Recovery coaches who do not require state certification
Another appropriately qualified workforce

Step 3: Determine Whether State Certification Is Required

If the service requires a CBHPSS, verify:

Lived-experience eligibility
Recovery requirement
Approved 40-hour training
Examination
Supervision
Recovery narrative
Background check
Board application
Active certification

Step 4: Determine Medicaid Eligibility

If Medicaid reimbursement is expected, identify whether the service is:

Mental health CBHPS
SUD CBHPS
Another behavioral health service

Then verify:

Member eligibility
Medical necessity
Provider type
CBHPSS qualification
Service planning
Authorization
Documentation
Billing requirements

Step 5: Establish Credential Tracking

Track:

Certification number
Original certification date
Expiration date
Continuing education
Supervision
Renewal
Training certificates
Background check
Specialty training

Step 6: Establish Supervision

Create workflows for:

Supervisor assignment
Supervision plan
Supervision frequency
Documentation
Ethics
Boundaries
Role fidelity
Professional development
Clinical escalation

Step 7: Build the Service Workflow

Map:

Referral
Eligibility
Intake
Consent
Recovery goals
Peer assignment
Scheduling
Service delivery
Documentation
Supervision
Follow-up
Outcomes
Billing

Step 8: Establish Role Boundaries

Develop written policies covering:

Use of lived experience
Scope of practice
Confidentiality
Dual relationships
Transportation
Gifts
Social media
Communication outside work
Crisis escalation
Staff wellness
Role drift

Step 9: Configure Documentation

Documentation templates should reflect peer practice rather than forcing peers into psychotherapy note structures.

Capture:

Recovery goal
Peer activity
Participant response
Strengths
Skills
Natural supports
Resources
Progress
Next steps

Step 10: Measure Outcomes

Potential outcomes include:

Engagement
Recovery goal progress
Recovery capital
Community integration
Natural support development
Treatment engagement
Housing stability
Employment
Wellness
Participant satisfaction
Hospital utilization
Treatment retention
Peer workforce retention
Documentation timeliness
Supervision completion

Common Challenges for Montana Peer Programs

State Certification Requirements

Montana regulates the peer profession through a state board.

Organizations therefore need reliable systems for tracking certification rather than relying solely on training certificates.

Annual Renewal

Published guidance requires annual CBHPSS renewal.

Organizations need to monitor expiration dates, CE requirements, supervision, and renewal status. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Mental Health vs. SUD Medicaid Rules

Montana maintains separate Medicaid policies for mental health and substance use peer support. (DPHHS)

Organizations serving both populations should not assume identical eligibility and billing requirements.

Provider Eligibility

A worker may hold an active CBHPSS credential while the organization itself is not eligible to bill a particular Medicaid peer service.

Individual qualification and organizational eligibility should be tracked separately.

Family Peer Expansion

Montana’s family peer workforce is newer than its adult behavioral health peer system.

Organizations should expect training, certification, funding, and program guidance to continue evolving.

Rural Service Delivery

Montana’s geography creates challenges involving:

Travel
Transportation
Workforce shortages
Access to supervision
Training access
Service availability
Community resources

Virtual peer support and remote supervision may therefore be particularly important, subject to current regulatory and payer requirements.

Documentation Burden

Peer specialists are primarily valuable because of their ability to develop relationships through shared experience.

Documentation systems should support that work rather than overwhelm it.

Role Drift

Peer workers can gradually become responsible for:

Generic case management
Administrative tasks
Transportation
Compliance monitoring
Clinical tasks

Organizations should actively protect the distinct peer role.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Montana’s primary peer support credential?

The Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist, or CBHPSS.

Who regulates CBHPSS certification?

The Montana Board of Behavioral Health.

Is CBHPSS a state credential?

Yes.

Montana formally established behavioral health peer support specialist certification in 2017. (Montana’s Peer Network)

How much training is required?

Published Montana guidance requires a 40-hour peer support education program that includes an examination. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Is lived experience required?

Yes.

The CBHPSS credential is specifically based on personal behavioral health lived experience.

Is recovery required?

Yes.

Published Montana peer workforce guidance identifies a two-year recovery requirement for CBHPSS certification. Applicants should verify current Board rules when applying. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Is supervision required?

Yes.

Montana’s certification process includes a Supervisor Agreement and Supervision Plan under published guidance. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Is a background check required?

Yes.

Published certification guidance includes fingerprinting and a criminal background check. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Does certification need to be renewed?

Yes.

Published Montana guidance states that CBHPSS certification renews annually. (Montana’s Peer Network)

How much continuing education is required?

Published guidance identifies 20 hours of continuing education for annual renewal. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Can a CBHPSS support mental health recovery?

Yes.

Can a CBHPSS support substance use recovery?

Yes.

Montana’s peer workforce includes lived experience involving mental health, substance use, addiction, and co-occurring disorders. (Montana’s Peer Network)

Does Montana Medicaid cover peer support?

Yes.

The 2026 Montana Medicaid Member Guide identifies peer support as part of covered adult mental health services, and the Medicaid behavioral health provider manual contains dedicated mental health and SUD CBHPS policies. (DPHHS)

Does Montana have separate mental health and SUD Medicaid peer policies?

Yes.

The provider manual includes Policy 415 for mental health CBHPS and Policy 515 for adult SUD CBHPS. (DPHHS)

Who can provide Medicaid mental health peer support?

Published policy requires a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist certified by the Montana Board of Behavioral Health. (DPHHS)

Does every Medicaid member qualify for mental health peer support?

No.

The published adult mental health CBHPS policy requires the member to meet Severe and Disabling Mental Illness criteria. (DPHHS)

Can a CBHPSS independently bill Montana Medicaid?

Certification alone should not be assumed to create independent billing authority. Medicaid peer services must satisfy organizational provider and service requirements.

Does Montana have Family Peer Support Specialists?

Yes.

Montana is implementing a formal Family Peer Support Specialist workforce and certification pathway. (DPHHS)

What training is used for Family Peer Support?

Current state information identifies a 40-hour qualifying training. Family Peers for Hope’s Family Peer Support 101 meets Montana’s state certification standards. (DPHHS)

Are peer specialists clinicians?

No.

CBHPSS certification itself is not clinical professional licensure.

Official Montana Peer Support Resources

Montana Board of Behavioral Health

Official state regulatory authority for Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists and Family Peer Support Specialists.