AB976: Bill Text

LRB-4781/1

TJD:cdc

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 976

February 15, 2022 - Introduced by Representatives Zimmerman, Armstrong, Dittrich, Duchow, James and Plumer, cosponsored by Senators Testin, Ballweg and Bewley. Referred to Committee on Substance Abuse and Prevention.

AB976,1,5 An Act to repeal 49.45 (30j) (b) 2. a. to L. and 49.45 (30j) (b) 4. a. and b.; to renumber and amend 49.45 (30j) (b) 2. (intro.) and 49.45 (30j) (b) 4. (intro.); and to amend 46.482 (1) (b), 46.482 (2) (a), 46.482 (2) (f), 49.45 (30j) (title), 49.45 (30j) (a) 2., 49.45 (30j) (b) (intro.), 49.45 (30j) (b) 1., 49.45 (30j) (b) 3. and 49.45 (30j) (c) of the statutes; relating to: peer recovery specialists.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

2019 Wisconsin Act 122 requires the Department of Health Services to establish and maintain a program related to referral and treatment services following a substance use overdose including that overdose treatment providers coordinate and continue care and treatment after an overdose and use peer recovery coaches to encourage individuals to seek treatment among other requirements. Act 122 also requires DHS to provide reimbursement under the Medical Assistance program for services provided by peer recovery coaches if those services meet certain criteria. As part of those criteria, peer recovery coaches have to provide services under mental health professionals who have been trained in subjects specified in Act 122 and have to have completed 24 hours of supervised volunteer or paid work experience involving certain areas of practice and at least 10 hours training in each of the following: advocacy, mentoring and education, recovery and wellness support, and ethical responsibility as specified by DHS by rule. Act 122 includes those services provided by a peer recovery coach as a benefit to Medical Assistance program recipients.

This bill changes the terminology from peer recovery coach to peer recovery specialist. The bill also specifies that “peer recovery specialist” includes any peer recovery coach, certified peer specialist, certified peer parent specialist, and any other provider type DHS determines qualifies as a peer recovery specialist. The bill maintains the requirement that a peer recovery specialist provide services under the supervision of a mental health professional to receive Medical Assistance program reimbursement but eliminates the requirement that the supervising mental health professional have training in certain specified subjects. The bill also eliminates the specific requirements for supervised volunteer or paid work experience and 40 hours of training on peer recovery specialists to receive and instead requires only the training requirements that DHS establishes by rule.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB976,1 Section 1. 46.482 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,2,4 46.482 (1) (b) “Peer recovery coach” specialist” means an individual described under s. 49.45 (30j) (a) 2. who has completed the training requirements specified under s. 49.45 (30j) (b) 4.

AB976,2 Section 2. 46.482 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,2,7 46.482 (2) (a) Use peer recovery coaches specialists to encourage individuals to seek treatment for a substance use disorder following an overdose.

AB976,3 Section 3. 46.482 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,2,11 46.482 (2) (f) Collect and evaluate data on the outcomes of patients receiving peer recovery coach specialist services and coordination and continuation of care services under this section.

AB976,4 Section 4. 49.45 (30j) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,2,13 49.45 (30j) (title) Reimbursement for peer recovery coach specialist services.

AB976,5 Section 5. 49.45 (30j) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,3,4 49.45 (30j) (a) 2. “Peer recovery coach” specialist” means an individual who practices in the recovery field and who provides support and assistance to individuals who are in treatment or recovery from mental illness or a substance use disorder. “Peer recovery specialist” includes any peer recovery coach, certified peer specialist, certified peer parent specialist, and any other provider type the department determines qualifies as a peer recovery specialist.

AB976,6 Section 6. 49.45 (30j) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,3,8 49.45 (30j) (b) (intro.) The department shall reimburse under the Medical Assistance program under this subchapter any service provided by a peer recovery coach specialist if the service satisfies all of the following conditions:

AB976,7 Section 7. 49.45 (30j) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,3,12 49.45 (30j) (b) 1. The recipient of the service provided by a peer recovery coach specialist is in treatment for or recovery from mental illness or a substance use disorder.

AB976,8 Section 8. 49.45 (30j) (b) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 49.45 (30j) (b) 2. and amended to read:

AB976,3,17 49.45 (30j) (b) 2. The peer recovery coach specialist provides the service under the supervision of a competent mental health professional who has been trained in all of the following subjects: professional.

AB976,9 Section 9. 49.45 (30j) (b) 2. a. to L. of the statutes are repealed.

AB976,10 Section 10. 49.45 (30j) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,3,22 49.45 (30j) (b) 3. The peer recovery coach specialist provides the service in coordination with the Medical Assistance recipient's individual treatment plan and in accordance with the recipient's individual treatment goals.

AB976,11 Section 11. 49.45 (30j) (b) 4. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 49.45 (30j) (b) 4. and amended to read:

AB976,4,4 49.45 (30j) (b) 4. The peer recovery coach specialist providing the service has completed all of the following training requirements, as established by the department by rule, after consulting with members of the recovery community: community.

AB976,12 Section 12. 49.45 (30j) (b) 4. a. and b. of the statutes are repealed.

AB976,13 Section 13. 49.45 (30j) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB976,4,8 49.45 (30j) (c) The department shall certify under Medical Assistance peer recovery coaches specialists to provide services in accordance with this subsection.

AB976,4,9 (End)