Rhode Island Peer Support & Medicaid Guide

Rhode Island has a formal peer recovery workforce spanning mental health, substance use recovery, community behavioral health, hospitals and emergency departments, recovery community centers, courts, homeless services, outreach programs, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, and other community settings.

The state’s primary credential is the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, commonly abbreviated CPRS.

Certification is administered by the Rhode Island Certification Board, or RICB, an IC&RC member board. The credential is designed for people using their own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery to provide professional recovery support. RICB also recognizes a lived-experience pathway involving a family member or loved one affected by a mental health or substance use disorder. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Rhode Island Medicaid formally covers Peer Based Recovery Support Services, commonly abbreviated PBRSS. Current Medicaid guidance distinguishes mental health and substance use peer services using separate H0038 modifiers and requires services to be delivered by Certified Peer Recovery Specialists through qualifying Medicaid-enrolled providers. (EOHHS)

Rhode Island Peer Support Quick Facts

Category	Rhode Island overview
State Medicaid program	Rhode Island Medicaid
State behavioral health authority	BHDDH
Primary peer credential	Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
Abbreviation	CPRS
Certification body	Rhode Island Certification Board
Lived experience	Required
Recovery requirement	2 years sustained and continuous
Education	High school diploma/GED
Peer training	46 hours
Work experience	500 hours
Supervision	25 hours
Examination	IC&RC Peer Recovery examination
Exam questions	75
Exam time	2 hours
Certification renewal	Every 2 years
Continuing education	20 hours
Ethics CE	6 hours
Medicaid peer support	Yes
Medicaid service name	Peer Based Recovery Support Services
Mental health code	H0038 U2
Substance use code	H0038 U3
Group modifier	HQ
Billing unit	15 minutes
Adult Medicaid PBRSS	Age 18+
CCBHC peer workforce	Yes
Recovery Community Centers	Yes
Last reviewed	August 2026

What Is Peer Support in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island describes Peer Recovery Specialists, sometimes called Recovery Coaches, as current or former consumers of behavioral health services who are trained and certified to assist people in recovery and community integration.

Peer Support Services are intended to promote:

Hope
Empowerment
Self-determination
Understanding
Coping skills
Resiliency
Recovery
Community integration

through mentoring, coaching, navigation, education, and service coordination support. (RI Home Development & Housing)

Peer specialists work in settings including:

Community mental health centers
Behavioral health programs
Substance use treatment facilities
Peer-run organizations
Community-based organizations
Emergency rooms
Courts
Homeless shelters
Outreach programs

(EOHHS)

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

Certified Peer Recovery Specialist

The Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, or CPRS, is Rhode Island’s primary professional peer credential.

RICB describes the CPRS as someone with personal lived experience who provides a unique perspective on recovery.

The credential is not intended to make the peer a:

Sponsor
Case manager
Therapist

Instead, RICB describes the CPRS role as that of a:

Role model
Mentor
Advocate
Motivator

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

CPRS Lived Experience Requirement

Current RICB requirements specify two years of sustained and continuous recovery involving:

The applicant’s own substance use disorder
The applicant’s own mental health disorder
Or qualifying lived experience as a family member or loved one of someone with a substance use and/or mental health disorder

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

Lived experience is therefore central to Rhode Island’s credential rather than simply being preferred experience.

Education Requirement

Applicants must have at least:

High school diploma
GED

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

A college degree is not required.

CPRS Training Requirement

Rhode Island requires 46 hours of education and training specific to Peer Recovery Specialist domains. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Current RICB requirements specify:

10 hours in Advocacy
10 hours in Mentoring/Education
10 hours in Recovery/Wellness Support
16 hours in Ethical Responsibility

This totals:

46 hours

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

Rhode Island has continued investing in a standardized 46-hour peer training curriculum as part of its behavioral health workforce development infrastructure. (RI Home Development & Housing)

Peer Recovery Specialist Training

BHDDH maintains resources for people seeking pre-certification and recertification training.

The state currently directs prospective Peer Recovery Specialists to approved Rhode Island peer training resources and identifies peer certification as part of its broader behavioral health workforce development strategy. (RI Home Development & Housing)

Organizations should verify that a training satisfies current RICB certification requirements before relying on it for credentialing.

CPRS Work Experience

Rhode Island requires 500 hours of supervised paid or volunteer peer recovery experience specific to the CPRS domains. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

This means completing the required training alone does not establish full certification.

Organizations developing new peers should track qualifying work hours continuously.

Current Peer Job Description

Applicants must provide a current Peer Recovery Specialist job description.

RICB currently requires the job description to be signed by:

The applicant
The applicant’s immediate supervisor

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

This reinforces the connection between credentialing and actual peer practice.

On-the-Job Supervision

Rhode Island requires 25 hours of on-the-job supervision associated with qualifying CPRS work experience. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Supervision should support competency across the peer recovery domains.

Organizations should separately track:

Work hours
Supervision hours
Supervisor
Dates
Domains addressed
Credential progress

How to Become a Rhode Island CPRS

Step 1: Meet the Lived Experience Requirement

Meet the current two-year sustained and continuous recovery requirement through the applicable lived-experience pathway.

Step 2: Meet the Education Requirement

Have a high school diploma or GED.

Step 3: Complete 46 Hours of Peer Education

Complete training across the required CPRS domains.

Step 4: Accumulate 500 Hours of Peer Experience

Complete qualifying supervised peer support work or volunteer experience.

Step 5: Complete 25 Hours of Supervision

Document the required on-the-job supervision.

Step 6: Submit the Job Description

Provide the signed current Peer Recovery Specialist job description.

Step 7: Submit the Certification Application

Submit required documentation through RICB.

Step 8: Receive Examination Approval

RICB reviews the application and confirms that credential requirements have been satisfied before authorizing the examination. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Step 9: Pass the IC&RC Peer Recovery Examination

Pass the IC&RC Peer Recovery Specialist examination.

Step 10: Maintain Certification

Complete continuing education and recertification requirements every two years.

CPRS Examination

Rhode Island uses the IC&RC Peer Recovery Specialist examination.

Current RICB examination information identifies the exam as:

Computer based
75 questions
2 hours

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

Applicants may test only after RICB approves their certification application.

Rhode Island and IC&RC

The Rhode Island Certification Board is an IC&RC member board. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

IC&RC develops credentialing standards and examinations for addiction, prevention, and recovery professionals.

This can be relevant for peer professionals interested in working in other IC&RC jurisdictions, although reciprocity or credential transfer should always be verified directly with the destination state or credentialing board.

CPRS Certification Renewal

Rhode Island CPRS certification operates on a two-year recertification cycle. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Current RICB requirements specify:

20 hours of continuing education

during the two-year recertification period. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Continuing Education

The current CPRS renewal requirement is:

20 hours relevant to peer recovery
6 hours in ethics

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

RICB currently allows relevant education from multiple sources and does not place a limit on how many recertification hours may be completed online. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Organizations should track continuing education throughout the certification cycle rather than waiting until renewal.

Ethics

Ethics are a particularly important part of Rhode Island’s CPRS certification framework.

Initial certification requires 16 hours in Ethical Responsibility, while recertification requires 6 hours in ethics during each two-year credential cycle. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

RICB maintains a dedicated Peer Recovery Specialist Code of Ethics and disciplinary process. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Ethical peer practice may include:

Confidentiality
Boundaries
Appropriate use of lived experience
Participant choice
Professional conduct
Dual relationships
Cultural responsiveness
Self-determination
Conflicts of interest

Continuing Education Audits

RICB does not require every professional to submit training certificates with each recertification application.

Instead, continuing education documentation may be reviewed through random audits.

RICB currently conducts education audits twice each year, in:

January
July

Professionals selected for audit must document the required education completed during the prior two-year certification period. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Organizations should therefore retain employee training records even when they are not submitted during routine recertification.

Mental Health Peer Support

Rhode Island’s CPRS credential applies to people with lived experience involving mental health recovery as well as substance use recovery.

Mental health peer support may include:

Recovery mentoring
Wellness support
Self-advocacy
Community integration
Coping strategies
Natural support development
Resource navigation
Behavioral health engagement
Goal setting
Community connection
Crisis recovery
Transition support

Rhode Island Medicaid separately identifies mental health PBRSS through the U2 modifier. (EOHHS)

Substance Use Peer Support

Rhode Island also has a substantial substance use recovery peer infrastructure.

Peers may support people experiencing:

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

Peer recovery activities may include:

Recovery coaching
Treatment engagement
Recovery planning
Recovery capital development
Mutual support
Housing navigation
Employment support
Harm reduction
Community connection
Self-advocacy
Recovery maintenance

Rhode Island Medicaid distinguishes substance use PBRSS using the U3 modifier. (EOHHS)

Family Lived Experience

Rhode Island’s CPRS certification pathway currently recognizes qualifying lived experience as a family member or loved one of someone affected by a mental health and/or substance use disorder. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Rhode Island Medicaid’s PBRSS definition similarly recognizes personal experience involving a family member with a mental illness or substance use disorder within its peer workforce definition. (EOHHS)

Programs should still verify that the worker’s certification, lived experience, service assignment, and payer requirements align with the participant population.

Peer Support in Community Mental Health

Certified peers may work in Rhode Island community mental health organizations providing support alongside:

Therapists
Social workers
Case managers
Nurses
Prescribers
Community support staff
Other behavioral health professionals

Peers bring a distinct lived-experience perspective and should not simply be treated as lower-cost clinical staff.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Rhode Island’s behavioral health system uses Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, or CCBHCs, as a major component of community behavioral health delivery.

Current state behavioral health planning materials identify Certified Peer Recovery Specialists as part of CCBHC staffing in Rhode Island. (RI Home Development & Housing)

Peers may support CCBHC participants through:

Engagement
Recovery support
Navigation
Community connection
Wellness
Treatment engagement
Natural support development
Recovery planning

Recovery Community Centers

Rhode Island has a statewide recovery community infrastructure.

Current state planning documents identify five Recovery Community Centers operating across Rhode Island and providing:

Recovery support services
Recovery activities
Education
Outreach

(RI Home Development & Housing)

Recovery Community Centers may provide services funded through a variety of sources.

Not every interaction at a recovery center should automatically be treated as a Medicaid PBRSS encounter.

Hospitals and Emergency Departments

Rhode Island specifically recognizes emergency rooms as settings where Peer Recovery Specialists work. (EOHHS)

Hospital and emergency department peers may support:

Behavioral health engagement
Overdose response
Recovery connection
Treatment navigation
Discharge transitions
Community referral
Follow-up
Recovery planning

Programs should establish strong referral and follow-up processes so participants are not lost after discharge.

Courts and Justice Programs

Rhode Island also identifies courts among the settings where Peer Recovery Specialists may work. (EOHHS)

Peers may support justice-involved participants through:

Recovery
Behavioral health engagement
Reentry
Treatment navigation
Community resources
Housing
Employment
Self-advocacy

Program-specific qualifications should be verified separately.

Homelessness and Outreach Programs

Rhode Island explicitly recognizes homeless shelters and outreach programs as Peer Recovery Specialist work settings. (EOHHS)

Peers may help people experiencing homelessness:

Connect with behavioral health services
Navigate housing resources
Maintain engagement
Access recovery support
Build trust
Connect with community organizations
Develop recovery goals

Low-barrier peer engagement can be particularly valuable for participants who are not yet connected with traditional behavioral health systems.

Is Peer Support Covered by Rhode Island Medicaid?

Yes.

Rhode Island Medicaid covers Peer Based Recovery Support Services, or PBRSS.

EOHHS maintains a dedicated Peer Recovery Services provider resource and billing manual for these services. (EOHHS)

Who Can Receive Medicaid PBRSS?

Current Medicaid guidance identifies PBRSS for Medicaid-eligible individuals who:

Are age 18 or older
Need recovery-oriented assistance and support
Have a documented substance use disorder and/or mental health diagnosis

(EOHHS)

Organizations should verify current eligibility rules before providing a reimbursable service.

Medicaid Peer Qualification

Rhode Island Medicaid requires an eligible peer to be a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist credentialed through the Rhode Island Certification Board. (EOHHS)

The peer must work under the direction of either:

A licensed healthcare practitioner
Or a nonclinical certified PRS supervisor with at least two years of experience providing peer recovery services

(EOHHS)

Provider Certification

Rhode Island distinguishes individual CPRS certification from provider organization eligibility.

Current state planning materials note that agencies providing Medicaid Peer Based Recovery Support Services must also be appropriately certified by the state before Medicaid billing is permitted. (RI Home Development & Housing)

Organizations should separately verify:

Individual CPRS credential
Organizational PBRSS certification
Medicaid enrollment
Service eligibility
Claims requirements

Rhode Island Medicaid Peer Codes

Rhode Island uses H0038 for Peer Based Recovery Support Services, with modifiers distinguishing mental health from substance use services.

Service	Code
Mental health individual peer support	H0038 U2
Substance use individual peer support	H0038 U3
Mental health group peer support	H0038 U2 HQ
Substance use group peer support	H0038 U3 HQ
Mental health activities within group	H0038 U2 HQ HH
Substance use activities within group	H0038 U3 HQ HH

Current Medicaid materials identify these services in 15-minute units. (EOHHS)

Individual Peer Support

Individual Peer Based Recovery Support Services use:

H0038 U2

for mental health services.

H0038 U3

for substance use disorder services.

Services are billed in 15-minute units. (EOHHS)

Group Peer Support

Rhode Island also permits qualifying group peer recovery services.

Current Medicaid coding includes:

H0038 U2 HQ for mental health group services
H0038 U3 HQ for substance use group services

(EOHHS)

Organizations should accurately distinguish between individual and group services when documenting and billing.

Activities Within Group

Current Rhode Island Medicaid coding also identifies a separate combination for qualifying activities within groupservices:

H0038 U2 HQ HH for mental health
H0038 U3 HQ HH for substance use disorder services

(EOHHS)

Programs should use current billing guidance to determine when the HH modifier is applicable.

Medicaid Billing Unit

Rhode Island records PBRSS in 15-minute units. (EOHHS)

Organizations should therefore accurately capture:

Start time
End time
Duration
Units
Service type
Mental health vs. substance use designation
Individual vs. group service
Peer delivering the service

Current Medicaid Peer Rates

Rhode Island increased Medicaid Peer Based Recovery Support Service rates effective October 1, 2024.

Current published rates identified by EOHHS include:

Service	Rate
Individual peer service	$16.23 per 15 minutes
Group peer service	$4.71 per 15 minutes
Activities within group	$2.94 per 15 minutes

The codes retain the applicable U2 or U3 designation depending on whether the service is mental health or substance use related. (EOHHS)

Rates can change, so providers should verify the current fee schedule before billing.

Daily Medicaid Unit Limit

Rhode Island’s published Medicaid provider update identifies a maximum of 32 PBRSS units per date of service. (EOHHS)

At 15 minutes per unit, 32 units corresponds to eight hours of service.

Organizations should configure utilization safeguards rather than relying on peers to identify daily billing limits manually.

Medicaid Claims

Current PBRSS guidance states that services must be billed by a Medicaid-enrolled provider through standard Rhode Island Medicaid claiming procedures.

The billing manual identifies the CMS-1500 Professional claim structure for PBRSS. (EOHHS)

An individual CPRS credential alone should not be treated as independent Medicaid billing authority.

Certification and Billing Are Different

Several requirements must align before a peer encounter becomes reimbursable.

Organizations should separately evaluate:

Is the worker CPRS-certified?
Is the organization certified to provide PBRSS?
Is the organization enrolled with Rhode Island Medicaid?
Is the participant Medicaid eligible?
Does the participant meet PBRSS eligibility criteria?
Is the service in the participant’s applicable plan?
Was the correct service delivered?
Is the correct U2 or U3 modifier being used?
Was the service individual or group?
Does the documentation support the claim?

Scope of Practice

Rhode Island peer professionals may appropriately provide:

Sharing relevant lived experience
Recovery mentoring
Recovery planning
Wellness support
Goal setting
Advocacy
Self-advocacy support
Treatment navigation
Resource navigation
Community integration
Coping support
Recovery education
Recovery capital development
Natural support development
Group peer support
Community connection
Transition support
Engagement
Coaching

Rhode Island Medicaid describes required peer services as interventions promoting:

Socialization
Long-term recovery
Wellness
Self-advocacy
Healthy living skills

through education, coaching, navigation, and mentoring. (EOHHS)

Activities Generally Outside Peer Scope

Unless separately licensed and authorized under another professional role, a CPRS generally should not:

Diagnose mental health disorders
Diagnose substance use disorders
Conduct psychotherapy
Provide professional counseling
Prescribe medication
Provide medical advice
Conduct clinical assessments requiring licensure
Make involuntary treatment decisions
Independently modify clinical treatment
Represent themselves as licensed clinicians
Determine Medicaid eligibility
Provide legal advice

RICB specifically distinguishes the CPRS from a therapist or case manager. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Peer Supervision

Rhode Island recognizes peer-specific supervision as a core component of professional peer practice.

Initial CPRS certification requires 25 hours of supervised qualifying work experience. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

For Medicaid PBRSS, certified peers must operate under the direction of an eligible licensed practitioner or qualifying nonclinical peer supervisor. (EOHHS)

Peer supervision may address:

Use of lived experience
Recovery orientation
Ethics
Boundaries
Role fidelity
Documentation
Advocacy
Difficult interactions
Recovery planning
Staff wellness
Professional development
Community resources
Crisis escalation

Peer Recovery Specialist Supervisor Training

Rhode Island has developed dedicated Peer Recovery Specialist supervisor training as part of its peer workforce infrastructure.

Current state planning documents identify both:

Core Peer Recovery Specialist training
Peer Recovery Specialist supervisor training
Advanced recovery ethics training

as part of Rhode Island’s current workforce development work. (RI Home Development & Housing)

Organizations should verify current supervisor qualification requirements for their particular program and payer.

Documentation for Rhode Island Peer Support

Peer documentation should accurately explain what occurred and how the encounter supported recovery.

A strong Rhode Island peer note may include:

Participant identifier
Date
Start time
End time
Duration
Location
Modality
CPRS name
Credential
Mental health or substance use service type
Recovery goal
Peer intervention
Relevant use of lived experience
Coaching
Education
Navigation
Mentoring
Resource connection
Natural supports
Participant response
Progress
Barriers
Follow-up
Signature or attestation

For Medicaid services, documentation should also support the specific H0038 modifier and number of units billed.

Documentation Should Be

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

Documentation Should Avoid

Unsupported diagnoses
Clinical interpretations outside peer scope
Stigmatizing terminology
Generic statements such as “provided peer support”
Copy-and-paste documentation
Unnecessary sensitive details
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 support note does not automatically establish Medicaid reimbursement.

Payment may also depend on:

Rhode Island Medicaid eligibility
Participant age
Behavioral health diagnosis
Provider enrollment
PBRSS provider certification
Active CPRS credential
Eligible supervision
Covered service
Service plan
Correct H0038 modifier
Individual vs. group designation
Timed units
Daily limits
Documentation
Timely claim submission

Organizations should validate each requirement separately.

Confidentiality

Rhode Island peer programs may handle sensitive:

Mental health information
Substance use records
Recovery information
Family information

Applicable requirements may include:

HIPAA
42 CFR Part 2
Rhode Island law
Rhode Island Medicaid requirements
BHDDH standards
RICB ethics requirements
Organizational policies
Participant consent

Peer staff should receive role-specific training addressing:

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

Starting a Peer Support Program in Rhode Island

Step 1: Define the Population

Determine whether the program serves:

People with mental health conditions
People with substance use disorders
People with co-occurring conditions
Families and loved ones
People leaving hospitals
Justice-involved populations
People experiencing homelessness
Community recovery populations
Other behavioral health populations

Step 2: Determine Peer Qualifications

Determine whether workers need:

CPRS certification
CPRS certification-in-progress
Specialty training
Supervisor training
Additional program-specific qualifications

Step 3: Build Credential Tracking

Track:

High school diploma/GED
Lived-experience requirement
Two-year recovery requirement
46 training hours
Training domains
500 experience hours
25 supervision hours
Signed job description
Application
IC&RC examination
CPRS credential
Expiration date
Continuing education
Ethics hours
Recertification

Step 4: Determine Organizational Certification

If billing Medicaid, verify whether the organization meets current PBRSS provider certification requirements.

Step 5: Determine Funding

Potential funding may include:

Rhode Island Medicaid
BHDDH contracts
Federal block grants
Opioid settlement funds
Hospital contracts
CCBHC funding
Recovery Community Center funding
Grants
Philanthropy
Other contracts

Step 6: Establish Supervision

Determine:

Peer supervisor
Licensed practitioner oversight if applicable
Administrative supervisor
Clinical consultant
Supervision frequency
Documentation
Crisis escalation
Staff wellness

Step 7: Build the Service Workflow

Map:

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

Step 8: Configure Medicaid Services

If PBRSS reimbursement applies, configure:

Medicaid eligibility
Participant age
Mental health or SUD diagnosis
H0038 U2
H0038 U3
HQ
HH when applicable
15-minute units
Daily utilization
Provider enrollment
Documentation
Claims

Step 9: Establish Role Boundaries

Develop policies addressing:

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
Recovery capital
Treatment engagement
Self-advocacy
Community connection
Natural supports
Housing stability
Employment
Wellness
Crisis utilization
Emergency department utilization
Hospitalization
Participant satisfaction
Peer workforce retention
Documentation timeliness
Credential compliance

Common Challenges for Rhode Island Peer Programs

Credential Development

Full CPRS certification requires:

46 hours of training
500 hours of experience
25 hours of supervision
IC&RC examination

Organizations developing new peers need a structured pathway for tracking all four components.

Mental Health vs. Substance Use Billing

Rhode Island Medicaid distinguishes between:

U2 mental health services
U3 substance use disorder services

Programs serving co-occurring populations need clear rules for assigning the appropriate service designation.

Individual vs. Group Billing

The Medicaid billing structure also distinguishes:

Individual
Group
Activities within group

Documentation systems should capture the service configuration before the claim is generated.

Provider Certification

Hiring a CPRS does not automatically make an organization eligible to bill PBRSS.

The provider organization must also satisfy applicable Rhode Island certification and Medicaid enrollment standards.

Supervision

Rhode Island’s peer system includes both certification supervision and Medicaid service oversight.

Organizations should clearly define:

Who supervises the peer
Whether that individual meets current qualifications
How supervision is documented
Whether the requirement is credentialing-related, payer-related, or organizational

Two-Year Credential Renewal

Organizations should proactively track:

20 total CE hours
6 ethics hours
Credential expiration
Renewal

rather than discovering lapses after a peer has already delivered services.

Recovery Centers vs. Medicaid Services

Recovery Community Centers may deliver broad peer support, education, outreach, groups, and activities.

Not every meaningful recovery center interaction is a Medicaid PBRSS encounter.

Organizations should support both Medicaid and non-Medicaid peer workflows.

Documentation Burden

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

Poorly designed documentation systems can reduce direct participant time and encourage peers to write like clinicians.

Small-State Cross-Organization Coordination

Rhode Island’s behavioral health ecosystem is comparatively concentrated.

Participants may interact with:

CCBHCs
Recovery Community Centers
Hospitals
Treatment providers
Outreach organizations
Recovery housing
Community programs

Strong referral and handoff infrastructure can prevent duplication and lost follow-up.

Role Drift

Peers may gradually be assigned:

Generic case management
Administrative work
Transportation-only duties
Compliance monitoring
Clinical tasks

Organizations should protect the distinct role of professional peer support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rhode Island’s primary peer credential?

The Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, or CPRS. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Who certifies Rhode Island CPRS professionals?

The Rhode Island Certification Board. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Is RICB an IC&RC member board?

Yes. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Is lived experience required?

Yes.

Rhode Island’s CPRS credential is based on qualifying lived experience involving mental health and/or substance use recovery or an applicable family/loved-one pathway. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

How much recovery time is required?

Current RICB requirements specify two years of sustained and continuous recovery time under the applicable lived-experience pathway. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Is a high school diploma required?

Yes.

Applicants need a high school diploma or GED. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

How much training is required?

46 hours. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

What are the training domains?

Current requirements include:

10 hours Advocacy
10 hours Mentoring/Education
10 hours Recovery/Wellness Support
16 hours Ethical Responsibility

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

How much work experience is required?

500 hours of supervised paid or volunteer peer recovery experience. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

How much supervision is required?

25 hours of on-the-job supervision. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Is there an examination?

Yes.

Applicants must pass the IC&RC Peer Recovery Specialist examination. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

How long is the exam?

Current RICB information identifies:

75 questions
2-hour testing period

(Rhode Island Certification Board)

How often does CPRS certification renew?

Every two years. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

How much continuing education is required?

20 hours relevant to peer recovery. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

How much ethics education is required?

6 hours during each recertification cycle. (Rhode Island Certification Board)

Does Rhode Island Medicaid cover peer support?

Yes.

Rhode Island Medicaid formally covers Peer Based Recovery Support Services. (EOHHS)

Who can receive Medicaid PBRSS?

Current guidance covers qualifying Medicaid members age 18 or older with a documented mental health and/or substance use disorder who need recovery-oriented assistance. (EOHHS)

What is the Medicaid code for mental health peer support?

H0038 U2. (EOHHS)

What is the Medicaid code for substance use peer support?

H0038 U3. (EOHHS)

What modifier is used for group peer support?

HQ under the current billing structure. (EOHHS)

What is the billing unit?

15 minutes. (EOHHS)

What is the current individual peer rate?

The currently published EOHHS rate is $16.23 per 15-minute unit, effective October 1, 2024. Providers should verify that the rate remains current before billing. (EOHHS)

Is there a daily maximum?

Current published Medicaid guidance identifies a maximum of 32 units per date of service. (EOHHS)

Can a CPRS independently bill Medicaid simply because they are certified?

No.

The service must be billed through an eligible Medicaid-enrolled provider meeting applicable PBRSS requirements. (EOHHS)

Do CPRSs work in emergency rooms?

Yes.

Rhode Island specifically identifies emergency rooms among common peer work settings. (EOHHS)

Do peers work in courts?

Yes.

Courts are also identified as a Peer Recovery Specialist setting. (EOHHS)

Do Rhode Island CCBHCs use certified peers?

Yes.

Current state behavioral health planning documents identify Certified Peer Recovery Specialists as part of Rhode Island’s CCBHC workforce. (RI Home Development & Housing)

Does Rhode Island have Recovery Community Centers?

Yes.

Current state planning documents identify five Recovery Community Centers across Rhode Island. (RI Home Development & Housing)

Are CPRSs clinicians?

No.

The CPRS credential itself is a peer recovery credential, not professional clinical licensure.

Official Rhode Island Peer Support Resources

Rhode Island Certification Board

Official credentialing organization for Rhode Island Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, examinations, ethics, credential verification, and recertification.