Oregon Peer Support & Medicaid Guide

Oregon has one of the more developed and distinctive peer support infrastructures in the United States. Peer workers are integrated into behavioral health, substance use recovery, mental health services, problem gambling recovery, youth and family services, Medicaid, Coordinated Care Organizations, and community-based recovery systems.

The Oregon Health Authority, or OHA, recognizes two major state peer worker categories:

Peer Support Specialist, or PSS
Peer Wellness Specialist, or PWS

Oregon also has a major addiction-specific credential, the Certified Recovery Mentor, or CRM, administered by the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon, commonly known as MHACBO.

PSS and PWS workers are formally included within Oregon’s Traditional Health Worker, or THW, workforce. Oregon law identifies Peer Support Specialists and Peer Wellness Specialists as Traditional Health Workers, connecting the peer workforce directly to the state’s broader healthcare delivery infrastructure. (Oregon.gov)

Oregon recognizes several peer specialization pathways, including:

Adult Addictions
Adult Mental Health
Youth Support
Family Support

OHA also explicitly recognizes lived experience involving problem gambling as a qualifying pathway for peer certification. (Oregon.gov)

Oregon Peer Support Quick Facts

Category	Oregon overview
State Medicaid program	Oregon Health Plan
Abbreviation	OHP
State behavioral health authority	Oregon Health Authority
Primary peer credential	Peer Support Specialist
Abbreviation	PSS
Advanced/wellness peer credential	Peer Wellness Specialist
Abbreviation	PWS
Addiction recovery credential	Certified Recovery Mentor
Abbreviation	CRM
PSS training	40 hours
PWS training	80 hours
Minimum age	18
Oral health training	Required for OHA PSS/PWS certification
Background check	Required
Certification cycle	3 years
Continuing education	20 hours per 3-year cycle
Medicaid peer coverage	Yes
Major peer Medicaid code	H0038
H0038 unit	15 minutes
Medicaid delivery	Fee-for-service and CCO structures
Traditional Health Worker	PSS and PWS
Adult addictions pathway	Yes
Adult mental health pathway	Yes
Youth pathway	Yes
Family pathway	Yes
Problem gambling pathway	Yes
Last reviewed	August 2026

What Is Peer Support in Oregon?

Oregon’s peer-delivered services system is based on the idea that people with lived experience can play a distinct role in helping others navigate recovery, wellness, behavioral health systems, and community life.

OHA works with peers with lived experience involving:

Addiction
Mental health services
Problem gambling
Family behavioral health systems

Oregon identifies these professionals primarily as Peer Support Specialists and Peer Wellness Specialists. (Oregon.gov)

OHA describes peer-delivered services as an important component of transforming Oregon’s behavioral health system and creating a recovery-based system of care. (Oregon.gov)

Peer support may involve:

Recovery mentoring
Sharing lived experience
Self-advocacy
Recovery planning
Wellness
Skill development
Community integration
Treatment engagement
System navigation
Resource connection
Family support
Youth support
Recovery capital development
Hope
Empowerment

Peer support remains distinct from psychotherapy, diagnosis, medication management, and other clinical services requiring professional licensure.

Peer Support Specialist

The Peer Support Specialist, or PSS, is one of Oregon’s primary peer credentials.

A PSS uses lived experience to provide support to people experiencing similar behavioral health or recovery challenges.

Oregon recognizes PSS specialization categories including:

Adult Addictions
Adult Mental Health
Youth Support
Family Support

(Oregon.gov)

Adult Addictions Peer Support Specialist

OHA describes an Adult Addictions PSS as a person in addiction recovery who provides support to people seeking recovery from addiction. (Oregon.gov)

These peers may support people experiencing:

Opioid use disorder
Alcohol use disorder
Stimulant use disorder
Other substance use disorders
Co-occurring conditions

Activities may include:

Recovery mentoring
Recovery planning
Treatment navigation
Harm reduction
Recovery capital development
Mutual support connection
Housing resources
Employment resources
Community integration
Long-term recovery support

Adult Mental Health Peer Support Specialist

OHA describes the Adult Mental Health PSS as a person with lived experience of mental health challenges who provides support to people with similar experiences. (Oregon.gov)

Mental health peers may support:

Recovery
Self-determination
Community integration
Treatment engagement
Wellness
Goal development
Self-advocacy
Natural supports
Housing
Employment
Crisis recovery
Social connection

Youth Support Specialist

Oregon recognizes Youth Support as a PSS and PWS specialization.

The state’s definition centers on a peer worker with similar lived experience supporting a young person who:

Is not older than 30
Is a current or former consumer of mental health or addiction treatment, or
Has experienced difficulty accessing education, health, or wellness services because of mental or behavioral health barriers

(Oregon.gov)

Youth peers may help with:

Youth voice
Self-advocacy
Behavioral health navigation
Transition to adulthood
Education
Employment
Housing
Community connection
Recovery
Resilience
Goal setting

Family Support Specialist

Oregon also recognizes Family Support within the PSS and PWS workforce.

Family Support Specialists draw on similar lived experience parenting a child who:

Is a current or former consumer of mental health or addiction treatment, or
Has experienced barriers accessing education, health, or wellness services because of behavioral health needs

(Oregon.gov)

Family peers may support caregivers with:

Behavioral health navigation
Advocacy
Education
Treatment engagement
Family empowerment
Community resources
Service coordination
Natural supports
Youth-serving systems

Peer Wellness Specialist

Oregon’s Peer Wellness Specialist, or PWS, is a second major peer workforce category.

The PWS role combines peer lived experience with a stronger wellness and whole-health orientation.

OHA requires PWS applicants to complete an approved 80-hour training program, compared with 40 hours for PSS certification. (Oregon.gov)

Like PSS workers, PWS professionals may specialize in:

Adult Addictions
Adult Mental Health
Youth Support
Family Support

(Oregon.gov)

PSS vs. PWS

Area	PSS	PWS
Full title	Peer Support Specialist	Peer Wellness Specialist
State system	Traditional Health Worker	Traditional Health Worker
Minimum training	40 hours	80 hours
Adult Addictions	Yes	Yes
Adult Mental Health	Yes	Yes
Youth Support	Yes	Yes
Family Support	Yes	Yes
OHA certification	Yes	Yes
Background check	Yes	Yes
Oral health training	Yes	Yes
Recertification	Every 3 years	Every 3 years
Continuing education	20 hours	20 hours

(Oregon.gov)

Who Can Become an Oregon Peer?

OHA states that an individual must be at least 18 years old and identify as one of the following:

A current or former consumer of addiction or mental health services
A person in recovery from addiction
A person in recovery from problem gambling
A family member of a current or former consumer of addiction or mental health services

(Oregon.gov)

The exact lived-experience requirements vary according to the peer specialization.

Problem Gambling Peer Support

Oregon explicitly includes problem gambling recovery within its peer workforce framework.

A person in recovery from problem gambling may qualify within Oregon’s PSS/PWS certification structure when other requirements are satisfied. (Oregon.gov)

This is significant because many state peer certification systems focus primarily on:

Mental health
Substance use

without explicitly recognizing gambling recovery.

Oregon’s framework therefore provides a pathway for peer support addressing behavioral addictions as well.

Traditional Health Workers

PSS and PWS workers are formally classified as Traditional Health Workers under Oregon law. (Oregon.gov)

Oregon’s broader THW workforce includes categories such as:

Peer Support Specialists
Peer Wellness Specialists
Community Health Workers
Personal Health Navigators
Birth Doulas

The Traditional Health Worker framework creates infrastructure for:

Certification
Training
Registry enrollment
Healthcare integration
Medicaid provider enrollment
Continuing education
Workforce development

Oregon Traditional Health Worker Registry

After completing an OHA-approved foundation training program, applicants use their completion certificate to apply for certification through Oregon’s Health Workforce Registry. (Oregon.gov)

OHA maintains the Traditional Health Worker Registry so organizations, health systems, and others can identify certified workers. (Oregon.gov)

Organizations employing Oregon peers should track both:

The employee’s internal credential documentation
Current state registry status

PSS Training Requirement

Oregon PSS certification generally requires successful completion of an OHA-approved 40-hour training program. (Oregon.gov)

Applicants should ensure the training program is currently approved by OHA.

Completing an unapproved peer training does not necessarily satisfy Oregon’s state certification requirements.

PWS Training Requirement

Oregon Peer Wellness Specialists generally complete an OHA-approved 80-hour training program. (Oregon.gov)

The longer curriculum reflects the PWS role’s additional emphasis on:

Whole health
Wellness
Health system navigation
Recovery
Peer support

Oral Health Training

Oregon requires PSS and PWS applicants to complete approved Traditional Health Worker Oral Health training in addition to the applicable peer training. (Oregon.gov)

Applicants should retain the oral health training certificate because OHA identifies it as documentation needed during the THW application process. (Oregon.gov)

This is an unusual requirement compared with many other state peer certification systems.

Background Check

Oregon requires peer certification applicants to pass a criminal history background check.

For most PSS and PWS applicants, OHA conducts the background check.

For Certified Recovery Mentor applicants, MHACBO conducts the applicable background review. (Oregon.gov)

Organizations should review Oregon’s current background-check rules rather than assuming any justice-system history automatically prevents peer employment.

Reciprocity

Oregon offers a limited reciprocity pathway for certain out-of-state peer credentials.

As of 2026, OHA identifies reciprocity for qualifying Peer Support Specialists from:

Alaska
Idaho

The worker must be in good standing with the certifying body and satisfy Oregon’s additional requirements, including:

Application
Oral health training
Background check
Any additional OHA criteria

OHA states that reciprocity for Washington Peer Support Specialists has been paused since February 11, 2026, with no announced reinstatement date. (Oregon.gov)

Programs recruiting peers from neighboring states should verify reciprocity status directly with OHA because these policies can change.

Certified Recovery Mentor

Oregon also has a prominent addiction-specific peer credential known as the Certified Recovery Mentor, or CRM.

Unlike most OHA-certified PSS workers, CRM certification is handled through the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon, or MHACBO.

OHA directs people seeking CRM I certification to apply through MHACBO rather than through the general Traditional Health Worker certification process. (Oregon.gov)

Certified Recovery Mentors are particularly common in:

Substance use treatment
Recovery community programs
Recovery housing
Outreach
Justice programs
Hospitals
Community behavioral health
Recovery organizations

Organizations should distinguish between:

OHA PSS certification
OHA PWS certification
MHACBO CRM certification

even when workers perform overlapping recovery-support functions.

Recertification

Oregon PSS and PWS certifications operate on a three-year recertification cycle. (Oregon.gov)

Organizations should track:

Certification issue date
Expiration date
Continuing education
Specialty
Registry status
Recertification submission

Continuing Education

OHA requires PSS and PWS professionals to complete 20 hours of continuing education during each three-year renewal period. (Oregon.gov)

Continuing education should support the worker’s scope of practice.

OHA’s current PWS requirements for Adult Mental Health and Adult Addictions also specify that at least three of the 20 hours address suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management appropriate to the PWS scope of work. (Oregon.gov)

Programs should verify the exact CE requirements applicable to each worker type and specialization rather than applying one generic renewal checklist to every peer.

Oregon Health Plan

Oregon Medicaid is known as the Oregon Health Plan, or OHP.

Peer-delivered services are incorporated into Oregon’s Medicaid infrastructure.

OHA provides specific guidance explaining how:

Behavioral health organizations
Primary care clinics
Certified peers

can provide services to Oregon Health Plan members. (Oregon.gov)

Coordinated Care Organizations

Many Oregon Health Plan members receive services through Coordinated Care Organizations, commonly known as CCOs.

This creates two important Medicaid pathways:

OHP fee-for-service, sometimes called Open Card
CCO-managed services

OHA instructs providers with billing questions for CCO members to work with the applicable CCO or CCO Traditional Health Worker liaison. (Oregon.gov)

This distinction matters because CCO requirements and payment arrangements may differ from statewide OHA fee-for-service rules.

Medicaid Provider Enrollment for Peers

OHA maintains a Peer-Delivered Services Billing Guide explaining how certified peer professionals can enroll as Oregon Medicaid providers and how peer services are billed for OHP fee-for-service members. (Oregon.gov)

Programs should separately verify:

Individual peer certification
Medicaid provider enrollment
Organizational enrollment
Member coverage
CCO participation
Service eligibility
Billing requirements

Certification alone does not establish that every peer interaction is reimbursable.

Medicaid Peer Support Code

Oregon’s October 2025 Peer-Delivered Services Billing Guide identifies:

H0038

for:

Self-help/peer services, per 15 minutes.

(Oregon.gov)

The service includes specialized therapeutic interactions supporting people in recovery and community integration through:

Mentoring
Understanding
Coping skills
Empowerment
Other peer supports

(Oregon.gov)

15-Minute Units

Oregon’s current OHP Peer-Delivered Services Billing Guide identifies H0038 as a per 15-minute service. (Oregon.gov)

Organizations billing OHP should therefore accurately capture:

Service date
Start time
End time
Duration
Units
Rendering peer
Service provided
Participant goal
Documentation

Other Peer-Delivered Service Codes

Oregon’s peer billing infrastructure is broader than H0038 alone.

Current OHA billing materials also identify peer-delivered services under codes such as:

H0038 for peer/self-help services
T1016 for case management
H2014 for skills training and development

depending on the service, program, scope, diagnosis, and billing requirements. (Oregon.gov)

Oregon’s January 2026 Integrated Co-Occurring Disorders Billing Guide additionally lists peer support services using codes including H0038, H2014, T1016, H0023, H2011, and G0177 in applicable circumstances. (Oregon.gov)

Organizations should never assume a peer worker can simply select among these codes.

The code must correspond to:

The actual service
Worker scope
Participant eligibility
Program requirements
Diagnosis requirements where applicable
OHP or CCO billing policy

Adult Addictions Medicaid Peer Services

Oregon’s Medicaid infrastructure recognizes adult addiction peer services.

Adult addiction peers can work across settings such as:

Substance use treatment
Community recovery
Hospitals
Outreach
Recovery housing
Behavioral health organizations
Integrated care
Justice programs

The specific Medicaid billing structure depends on the program, provider enrollment, member coverage, and whether the participant is fee-for-service or enrolled in a CCO.

Adult Mental Health Medicaid Peer Services

Adult mental health PSS and PWS professionals may also participate in Oregon Health Plan services.

Peer support can complement:

Community mental health treatment
Integrated behavioral health
Case management
Crisis recovery
Skills training
Care coordination
Community integration

The peer role should remain distinct from licensed clinical treatment.

Youth Peer Services

Oregon’s formal Youth Support specialization allows peer-delivered services to preserve youth voice within behavioral health systems.

Youth peer programs may operate within:

Community behavioral health
Mental health treatment
Substance use services
Transition-age youth programs
Schools and education-related programs
Community organizations
Medicaid-funded services

Organizations should verify the specific payer and program requirements before billing youth peer services.

Family Peer Services

Family Support Specialists can work with parents and caregivers navigating:

Child behavioral health
Youth addiction services
Mental health treatment
Education systems
Health systems
Community supports

Oregon’s formal recognition of Family Support within both PSS and PWS categories allows organizations to build dedicated family peer workforces rather than treating family engagement as an extension of adult peer support. (Oregon.gov)

Integrated Co-Occurring Disorders

Oregon maintains specific billing guidance for Integrated Co-Occurring Disorders, reflecting the state’s focus on people experiencing both mental health and substance use conditions.

The January 2026 OHA billing guide explicitly includes peer support among the service categories available within applicable ICOD programs. (Oregon.gov)

This creates an important role for peers with lived experience navigating multiple behavioral health systems.

Scope of Practice

Depending on credential, specialization, program, and payer, Oregon peers may support participants through:

Sharing relevant lived experience
Recovery mentoring
Wellness support
Goal setting
Self-advocacy
System navigation
Recovery planning
Community integration
Treatment engagement
Resource navigation
Recovery capital development
Natural support development
Skill development
Family support
Youth support
Problem gambling recovery
Harm reduction
Transition support

Activities Generally Outside Peer Scope

Unless separately licensed and authorized, a peer professional generally should not:

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

A peer may work on a multidisciplinary team without becoming a clinician.

Peer Supervision

Peer-specific supervision is important for preserving the integrity of Oregon’s peer workforce.

Supervision may address:

Use of lived experience
Recovery orientation
Ethics
Boundaries
Mutuality
Role fidelity
Documentation
Participant relationships
Cultural responsiveness
Difficult interactions
Staff wellness
Professional development
Community resources

Organizations should distinguish:

Peer supervision
Administrative supervision
Clinical consultation

A peer supervisor does not necessarily need to convert peer services into a clinical model.

Documentation for Oregon Peer Support

A strong Oregon peer support note may include:

Participant identifier
Date
Start time
End time
Duration
Location
Modality
Peer worker
Credential
PSS/PWS specialization
Recovery or wellness goal
Peer activity
Relevant use of lived experience
Skills addressed
Resource navigation
Recovery capital
Natural supports
Participant response
Progress
Barriers
Follow-up
Connection to applicable service plan
Signature or attestation

When OHP reimbursement applies, documentation should also support the specific Medicaid service and code billed.

Documentation Should Be

Accurate
Timely
Person-centered
Recovery-oriented
Wellness-oriented
Youth-guided when applicable
Family-centered when applicable
Strengths-based
Specific
Respectful
Relevant
Consistent with peer scope
Connected to participant goals

Documentation Should Avoid

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

Documentation and Billing Are Not the Same Thing

A completed peer support note does not automatically establish that an Oregon Health Plan claim is payable.

Payment may additionally depend on:

OHP eligibility
CCO enrollment
Fee-for-service status
Covered benefit
Peer certification
Medicaid provider enrollment
Organizational enrollment
Service authorization
Diagnosis requirements
Correct procedure code
Correct modifier
Units
Rendering provider
Documentation
Timely filing
CCO-specific requirements

Organizations should validate each component separately.

Fee-for-Service vs. CCO Billing

This distinction is particularly important in Oregon.

For an OHP fee-for-service member, organizations should use current OHA billing guidance.

For a CCO member, OHA directs providers to the applicable:

Coordinated Care Organization
CCO Traditional Health Worker liaison

for billing questions and requirements. (Oregon.gov)

Organizations operating across multiple Oregon CCO regions may therefore need to manage different:

Contracts
Billing rules
Authorization requirements
Rates
Documentation expectations
Provider enrollment processes

Oregon peer programs may handle highly sensitive behavioral health, substance use, gambling, youth, and family information.

Applicable requirements may include:

HIPAA
42 CFR Part 2
Oregon law
Oregon Health Authority rules
Oregon Health Plan requirements
CCO requirements
Organizational policy
Participant consent

Peer workers should receive role-specific training addressing:

Information access
Documentation
Participant consent
Care-team communication
Substance use records
Gambling-related records
Youth information
Family information
Text messaging
Email
Telehealth
Social media
Crisis communication
Mandatory reporting

Starting a Peer Support Program in Oregon

Step 1: Define the Population

Determine whether the organization serves:

Adults with substance use disorders
Adults with mental health conditions
People with co-occurring conditions
People experiencing gambling problems
Youth
Families
Justice-involved populations
People receiving OHP services
Other community populations

Step 2: Determine the Peer Role

Identify whether staff need:

PSS
PWS
CRM
Adult Addictions specialization
Adult Mental Health specialization
Youth Support specialization
Family Support specialization

Step 3: Build Credential Tracking

Track:

Credential type
Specialization
OHA-approved training
40-hour PSS training
80-hour PWS training
Oral health training
Background check
Registry enrollment
Certification date
Expiration
Continuing education
Recertification
Medicaid enrollment where applicable

Step 4: Establish Supervision

Determine:

Peer supervisor
Administrative supervisor
Clinical consultant
Supervision frequency
Documentation
Ethics support
Professional development
Crisis escalation
Staff wellness

Step 5: Determine the Funding Model

Potential funding may include:

Oregon Health Plan
Coordinated Care Organizations
OHP fee-for-service
Behavioral health contracts
State funding
Federal block grants
Opioid settlement funding
Problem gambling funding
County funding
Grants
Hospitals
Other contracts

Step 6: Determine OHP Enrollment

If Medicaid reimbursement is planned, verify:

Member OHP eligibility
CCO enrollment
Open Card status
Peer Medicaid enrollment
Organizational enrollment
Covered service
Applicable billing code
Authorization

Step 7: Build the Service Workflow

Map:

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

Step 8: Configure Billing

Where applicable, systems should support:

H0038
15-minute units
Other authorized peer-delivered codes
Rendering peer
OHP eligibility
CCO
Fee-for-service
Authorization
Diagnosis requirements
Documentation
Claim status

Step 9: Establish Role Boundaries

Develop policies covering:

Use of lived experience
Peer vs. clinical roles
Confidentiality
Dual relationships
Transportation
Gifts
Social media
Communication outside work
Crisis escalation
Staff wellness
Role drift

Step 10: Measure Outcomes

Potential outcomes include:

Engagement
Recovery goal progress
Wellness
Self-advocacy
Treatment engagement
Recovery capital
Community connection
Housing
Employment
Family empowerment
Youth voice
Gambling recovery
Crisis utilization
Hospitalization
Participant satisfaction
Peer workforce retention
Documentation timeliness
Credential compliance

Common Challenges for Oregon Peer Programs

PSS vs. PWS vs. CRM

Oregon has multiple peer credentials with overlapping functions.

Organizations should know whether each employee is:

PSS
PWS
CRM
More than one credential where applicable

and which credential is required for the worker’s actual role.

Four Peer Specializations

Oregon formally distinguishes:

Adult Addictions
Adult Mental Health
Youth Support
Family Support

Systems should track specialization rather than simply recording “Peer Support Specialist.”

OHA vs. MHACBO Certification

Most PSS and PWS certification runs through OHA’s Traditional Health Worker system.

CRM certification is handled through MHACBO. (Oregon.gov)

Employers may therefore need to track credentials from multiple certifying bodies.

CCO Complexity

Oregon’s CCO model can create different workflows across regions.

A multi-region organization may need to manage different:

Contracts
Eligibility processes
Billing rules
Rates
Authorization
Reporting

Fee-for-Service vs. Managed Care

Programs must know whether an OHP participant is:

Open Card
Enrolled in a CCO

before assuming a billing workflow.

Medicaid Enrollment

Certification and Medicaid enrollment are related but distinct.

A certified peer is not automatically authorized to bill every OHP peer service.

Problem Gambling

Oregon explicitly recognizes problem gambling lived experience within its peer system. (Oregon.gov)

Organizations serving gambling populations should ensure their workflows do not assume every peer participant has a mental health or substance use diagnosis.

Youth and Family Services

Youth and Family Support have distinct lived-experience relationships.

Programs need workflows capable of distinguishing:

Participant
Parent/caregiver
Peer
Authorized representative
Service recipient
Consent
Goals

Documentation Burden

Peer workers are valuable because of their relationships and lived experience.

Poorly designed documentation and billing systems can reduce direct service time and increase workforce burnout.

Role Drift

Peer workers can gradually become responsible for:

Generic case management
Administrative work
Transportation
Compliance monitoring
Clinical activities

Organizations should protect the distinct peer role.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Oregon’s primary peer credential?

The Peer Support Specialist, or PSS.

Does Oregon also have a Peer Wellness Specialist credential?

Yes.

The PWS is a second major peer credential with additional wellness-focused training. (Oregon.gov)

How much training does a PSS need?

Current OHA guidance requires a 40-hour approved training program. (Oregon.gov)

How much training does a PWS need?

Current OHA guidance requires an 80-hour approved training program. (Oregon.gov)

How old must an Oregon peer be?

At least 18 years old. (Oregon.gov)

Does Oregon recognize substance use recovery?

Yes.

Adult Addictions is a formal PSS/PWS specialization. (Oregon.gov)

Does Oregon recognize mental health lived experience?

Yes.

Adult Mental Health is a formal PSS/PWS specialization. (Oregon.gov)

Does Oregon recognize problem gambling recovery?

Yes.

OHA explicitly includes a person in recovery from problem gambling among people who may qualify for PSS/PWS certification. (Oregon.gov)

Does Oregon have youth peers?

Yes.

Youth Support is a formal specialization. (Oregon.gov)

Does Oregon have family peers?

Yes.

Family Support is a formal specialization. (Oregon.gov)

What is a Certified Recovery Mentor?

A CRM is an Oregon addiction recovery peer credential administered through MHACBO rather than the general OHA PSS certification pathway. OHA directs CRM I applicants to MHACBO. (Oregon.gov)

Is oral health training required?

Yes.

OHA requires approved THW oral health training for PSS and PWS certification. (Oregon.gov)

Is a background check required?

Yes.

All applicants must pass the applicable criminal history background check. (Oregon.gov)

How often do Oregon peers recertify?

PSS and PWS professionals recertify every three years. (Oregon.gov)

How much continuing education is required?

Generally 20 hours during each three-year renewal period. (Oregon.gov)

Are peers considered Traditional Health Workers?

Yes.

Oregon law identifies PSS and PWS workers as Traditional Health Workers. (Oregon.gov)

Does Oregon Medicaid cover peer support?

Yes.

OHA maintains specific Medicaid provider enrollment and billing guidance for peer-delivered services. (Oregon.gov)

What is Oregon Medicaid called?

The Oregon Health Plan, or OHP.

What is the main Medicaid peer support code?

Current OHA guidance identifies H0038 for self-help/peer services. (Oregon.gov)

What is the H0038 billing unit?

15 minutes. (Oregon.gov)

Are there other codes peers may provide services under?

Yes.

Depending on the service and program, current OHA materials identify additional codes such as T1016 and H2014, among others. (Oregon.gov)

Do CCOs matter for peer billing?

Yes.

Providers serving CCO members should verify requirements with the applicable CCO or CCO Traditional Health Worker liaison. (Oregon.gov)

Does Oregon offer reciprocity?

Limited reciprocity exists.

As of 2026, OHA identifies qualifying reciprocity pathways for Alaska and Idaho. Washington reciprocity has been paused since February 11, 2026. (Oregon.gov)

Are Oregon peers clinicians?

No.

Peer certification itself does not constitute professional clinical licensure.

Official Oregon Peer Support Resources

Oregon Peer-Delivered Services

Official OHA hub covering Peer Support Specialists, Peer Wellness Specialists, certification, training, recovery services, Medicaid resources, laws, and the Traditional Health Worker framework.