Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Medical Assistance Services
 
Board
Board of Medical Assistance Services
 
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6/7/19  7:42 am
Commenter: Fairfax-Falls Church CSB

Peer Recovery Support Services Supplement
 
This draft appropriately separates the functions of Supervision and Clinical oversight for Peer Recovery Specialists. This is a cost effective strategy, will continue to assure quality services, and will allow programs to be more flexible in how they structure organizations. Importantly, Peer Recovery Specialists with supervisor training and the appropriate years of experience will now qualify to supervise other Peer Recovery Specialists. This capacity is crucial to maintaining a qualified peer workforce with a career ladder, and to providing peer-focused supervision. •Adjust the diagrams for Supervision and Clinical Oversight to reflect the separate functions of Professional Supervision and Clinical Oversight. The Direct Supervisor no longer necessarily connects to the practitioner providing the clinical oversight. That is only one option. •This draft specifies the PRS must have “a current certification by a certifying body approved by DBHDS.” This closes a loophole previously where a PRS could let their certification lapse and maintain registration to provide PRS services. • Define “Caseload” . This may be a straightforward matter to interpret in an outpatient program. However, a PRS may provide very time-limited services in an Emergency Services or similar context where they may not be assigned “cases,” per se. In addition, in many settings, Peer Specialists may provide services to a client not on their “caseload,” for example running support groups. In these groups, some participants may be assigned to a different PRS’s caseload. A definition of “caseload” would answer these questions. • Add to the list of persons who may make a referral for services a peer supporter . If a community partner can make a referral, that would seem to include a peer supporter. However, this should be specified.
CommentID: 72527