Medi-Cal Peer Support Services
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) launched the Medi-Cal Peer Support Services benefit in July 2022, in compliance with Senate Bill 803 (Beall, Chapter 150, Statutes of 2020) which established two requirements for DHCS:
- Seek federal approval to establish Medi-Cal Peer Specialists as a provider type; and
- Provide distinct Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist services under the Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) programs.
Following federal approval, DHCS added Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists (Peers) as a unique provider type within specific reimbursable services. Counties can voluntarily opt-in to provide this valuable resource in one or both delivery systems (SMHS, and DMC or DMC-ODS). As of February 2025, 52 counties include Medi-Cal Peer Support Services as a benefit in one or both of their delivery systems.
The County Behavioral Health Directors' Association (CBHDA) identified the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) to operate a State approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program, to support consistency statewide. As the certifying body, CalMHSA is responsible for certification and also for examination and enforcement of professional standards for certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists. For details on training, certification, examination, applying and more, visit the CA Peer Certification website. For more information on CalMHSA's role visit California Mental Health Services Authority | Peer Certification (calmhsa.org).
Resources
Behavioral Health Information Notices (BHINs)
Other Resources
Contact Us
Questions and comments may be submitted by email to CountySupport@dhcs.ca.gov.
For general inquiries regarding existing Medi-Cal Peer Support Services, trainings, or other resources please contact your local county behavioral health plan.
For questions regarding Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification, please contact CalMHSA at PeerCertification@CalMHSA.org.
Counties Participating in Peer Support Services
| County | Delivery System
|
1
| Alameda | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
| 2 | Amador | SMHS Only |
| 3 | Butte | DMC State Plan & SMHS
|
4
| Calaveras
| SMHS Only
|
5
| Colusa | SMHS Only |
6
| Contra Costa | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
7
| Del Norte | DMC State Plan & SMHS
|
8
| El Dorado
| DMC-ODS & SMHS
|
9
| Fresno | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
10
| Glenn | SMHS Only |
11
| Humboldt | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
12
| Inyo | DMC State Plan & SMHS |
13
| Kern | DMC, DMC-ODS & SMHS |
14
| Kings | DMC State Plan & SMHS |
15
| Lake | DMC State Plan & SMHS |
16
| Lassen | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
17
| Los Angeles | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
18
| Madera | SMHS Only |
19
| Marin | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
20
| Mariposa | DMC State Plan & SMHS
|
21
| Mendocino | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
22
| Merced | DMC State Plan & SMHS |
23
| Modoc | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
24
| Mono | SMHS Only |
25
| Monterey | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
26
| Nevada | DMC-ODS & SMHS
|
27
| Orange | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
28
| Placer | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
29
| Riverside | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
30
| Sacramento | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
31
| San Bernardino | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
32
| San Diego | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
33
| San Francisco | SMHS Only |
34
| San Joaquin | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
35
| San Luis Obispo | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
36
| San Mateo | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
37
| Santa Barbara | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
38
| Santa Clara | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
39
| Santa Cruz | DMC- ODS & SMHS |
40
| Shasta | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
41
| Sierra | DMC State Plan & SMHS |
42
| Siskiyou | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
43
| Solano | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
44
| Sonoma | DMC State Plan & SMHS |
45
| Stanislaus | DMC-ODS & SMHS |
46/47
| Sutter/Yuba | DMC State Plan & SMHS |
48
| Tehama
| DMC-ODS & SMHS |
49
| Trinity
| DMC-ODS & SMHS |
50
| Tulare
| DMC-ODS & SMHS
|
51
| Ventura
| DMC-ODS & SMHS
|
Archive: Pre-Implementation Materials
Implementing Peer Support Services in DMC, DMC-ODS, and SMHS.
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Listening Session #1
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Listening Session #2
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Listening Session #3
