A Connecticut substitute bill would direct Medicaid to fund certified peer support specialists on care teams and require a 2027 report on use and treatment data.
Proposed Medicaid peer support change
According to the Connecticut General Assembly, Substitute House Bill 5480 would address peer support services under Connecticut’s Medicaid program. The General Assembly’s April 7, 2026, file states that the Human Services Committee reported that the substitute bill ought to pass.
The measure is proposed legislation, not an enacted law. According to the Connecticut General Assembly, the bill is listed as a new section with an effective date of July 1, 2026, if it becomes law.
How the bill defines peer support
According to the Connecticut General Assembly, the bill defines peer support services as recovery-focused behavioral health services. The services would allow an individual to learn to manage their recovery with help from a peer support specialist.
The Connecticut General Assembly states that a peer support specialist would be someone with experience recovering from mental illness or substance use disorder. Under the proposal, the specialist would need certification to provide peer recovery support through a program administered by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
Medicaid reimbursement and reporting
According to the Connecticut General Assembly, the bill would require the commissioner of social services to amend the Medicaid state plan. The proposed amendment would integrate peer support services into care teams funded through the medical assistance program.
The Connecticut General Assembly also states that the commissioner would provide Medicaid reimbursement to peer support specialists for those services. The source does not describe reimbursement amounts, payment procedures, or which care settings would use the proposed services.
Under the proposed bill, the commissioner would need to submit a report by August 1, 2027, according to the Connecticut General Assembly. The report would go to the legislature’s committees with responsibility for human services and public health. It would cover the number of peer support specialists receiving Medicaid reimbursement, the number of Medicaid enrollees they serve, and available treatment outcome data.
What this means for Connecticut patients
According to the Connecticut General Assembly, this proposal concerns Medicaid-funded peer support within behavioral health care teams; it does not describe changes to TMS coverage or TMS treatment requirements. For people seeking local treatment options, this directory lists 75 published clinics in Connecticut and can help identify providers in their area.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More Connecticut reporting on access & coverage.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.