Bill · S. 3521· Senate(119-S-3521)
PEERS Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 12/17/2025
- Last activity
- 12/17/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Catherine Cortez Masto
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The PEERS Act of 2025 aims to amend the Social Security Act to include peer support services under the Medicare program. These services would be available at specific facilities such as community mental health centers, Federally qualified health centers, and rural health clinics. The bill defines peer support services as emotional, informational, instrumental, and social support intended to help individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders. It also establishes the definition of a peer support specialist as someone recovering from a mental health or substance use condition who is certified to provide these services. These changes are intended to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+7
The bill adds coverage for peer support services specifically for individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders.
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?+6
The bill provides specialized support services for individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders.
Does this do more about addiction and overdose deaths?+5
The bill includes peer support services for individuals with substance use disorders under Medicare coverage.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Access to Recovery Support: The bill would allow individuals diagnosed with a mental health condition or substance use disorder to receive emotional, informational, instrumental, and social and community support services (Section 2(b)(1)). These services are designed to help people achieve recovery, community integration, self-empowerment, and self-determination (Section 2(b)(1)(B)).
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Expanded Service Providers: By amending the Social Security Act, the bill expands the types of services covered at community mental health centers, Federally qualified health centers, and rural health clinics (Section 2(a)).
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Utilization of Experienced Specialists: The bill incorporates peer support specialists who are individuals recovering from a mental health or substance use condition (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Service Limitations: Medicare will exclude coverage for peer support services if they are not furnished by a rural health clinic, a Federally qualified health center, a community mental health center, or a certified community behavioral health clinic (Section 2(c)(3)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+7Improves Opioid Crisis Response+5Improves Healthcare Access+4Increases Medicare Funding+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For People With Disabilities+6Good For Seniors+5Good For Low Income Households+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- 12/17/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana