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CMS Guidance 2007 Peer Support Services

The purpose of this letter is to provide guidance to States interested in peer support services under the Medicaid program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recognizes that the mental health field has seen a big shift in the paradigm of care over the last few years. Now, more than ever, there is great emphasis on recovery from even the most serious mental illnesses when persons have access in their communities to treatment and supports that are tailored to their needs. Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn and participate fully in their communities. For some individuals, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling and productive life despite a disability. For others, recovery implies the reduction or complete remission of symptoms.