S. 2892Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Peer Support Enhancement and Evaluation Review Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:57 PM UTC

The Peer Support Enhancement and Evaluation Review Act requires the U.S. Comptroller General to prepare a report for Congress on how Medicaid programs provide peer support services. The report must be delivered within two years of the law’s enactment and will be sent to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. It aims to give lawmakers detailed information about state coverage, payment methods, spending, and the impact of peer support on behavioral health outcomes. The findings will also include recommendations for improving access to and delivery of peer support services under Medicaid.

Key Provisions

The Comptroller General must submit a report to the specified congressional committees no later than two years after the law takes effect.
The report must detail each state’s coverage mechanisms for peer support services, the populations served, payment models (including any alternative models), and available federal and state Medicaid spending data.
It must include case studies of state experiences and assess whether states measure the impact of peer support on access to behavioral health services, early detection and prevention of disorders, reduction of chronic conditions, and overall health costs.
The report must provide recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to improve peer support services and access under Medicaid.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

May 22, 2018

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 22, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Finance Committee

May 22, 2018

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in SenateIssued May 22, 2018

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2892

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 22, 2018

Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Isakson) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress on the provision of peer support services under the Medicaid program.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Peer Support Enhancement and Evaluation Review Act.

GAO report on peer support services under Medicaid

(a)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on the provision of peer support services under the Medicaid program.

(b)

Content of report

(1)

In general

The report required under subsection (a) shall include the following information:

(A)

Information on State coverage of peer support services under Medicaid, including—

(i)

the mechanisms through which States may provide such coverage, including through existing statutory authority or through waivers;

(ii)

the populations to which States have provided such coverage;

(iii)

the payment models, including any alternative payment models, used by States to pay providers of such services; and

(iv)

where available, information on Federal and State spending under Medicaid for peer support services.

(B)

Information on selected State experiences in providing medical assistance for peer support services under State Medicaid plans and whether States measure the effects of providing such assistance with respect to—

(i)

improving access to behavioral health services;

(ii)

improving early detection, and preventing worsening, of behavioral health disorders;

(iii)

reducing chronic and comorbid conditions; and

(iv)

reducing overall health costs.

(2)

Recommendations

The report required under subsection (a) shall include recommendations, including recommendations for such legislative and administrative actions related to improving services, including peer support services, and access to peer support services under Medicaid as the Comptroller General of the United States determines appropriate.