Certified Peer Recovery Specialists - Coverage Under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance and Workgroup on Certification

HB 886 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers to cover services provided by certified peer recovery specialists starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, health insurance plans, and certified peer recovery specialists who provide mental health or substance use recovery support. The bill mandates coverage for these services in any setting and creates a workgroup to improve certification processes for specialists. The workgroup, convened by the Maryland Department of Health, must report on streamlining certification by 2026. This policy change ensures standardized coverage for a specific type of recovery support service under state health programs.