Bill

S 3521

A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include peer support services at certain facilities under the Medicare program.

119th Congress Introduced by Bill Cassidy and 1 co-sponsor

Adds peer support services to Medicare under Title XVIII at select facilities, expanding coverage and reimbursement to trained peers aiding mental health and substance-use care.

Introduced in Senate

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · S 3521

Summary of S. 3521 (2025)

Overview

S. 3521 is a Senate bill introduced on January 28, 2025, sponsored by Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (primary). The bill proposes amending Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to add peer support services at certain facilities under the Medicare program. In practical terms, it would expand Medicare coverage to include peer support services at specified facilities, subject to future rulemaking and definitions.

Purpose and intent

Expand Medicare coverage to include peer support services for beneficiaries at qualifying facilities.
Recognize peer support services as a reimbursable component of Medicare, potentially improving access to mental health and addictive-issues support through trained peer specialists.
Align Medicare benefits with contemporary approaches to peer-based, non-clinical support that can complement clinical treatment.

Key provisions (as described by the bill’s title)

Amend Title XVIII (Medicare) to add peer support services.
Define the scope of services and the facilities where these services would be available (the bill text would specify the eligible facilities and settings).
Establish criteria for who can provide peer support services (e.g., credentialing or training requirements for peer specialists) and how services would be billed and reimbursed under Medicare.

Note: The full statutory text with detailed definitions, payment rates, eligibility standards, and provider qualifications is not included in the summary provided. The bill would typically outline these elements in subsequent sections.

Who would be affected

Medicare beneficiaries receiving care at the designated facilities.
Facilities that would be authorized to provide and bill for peer support services under Medicare.
Peer support specialists and associated credentialing bodies, depending on any proposed training or certification requirements.
Medicare program administration and payment contractors responsible for implementing coverage and payment rules.

Procedural history and timeline

Introduced in the Senate on January 28, 2025.
Referred to the Senate Committee on Labor (listed twice in the actions).
On December 17, 2025, the bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance (indicating it progressed to consideration by the Finance Committee, which typically handles payment and programmatic funding aspects for Medicare).
Also listed: Introduced in the Senate (December 17, 2025) with a separate action line, and multiple related actions on January 28, 2025.

Related bills

S 7865 (prior-session)
S 1985 (prior-session)
S 6372 (prior-session)
S 5575 (prior-session)

Potential impact and considerations

Access: If enacted, beneficiaries at participating facilities could gain access to peer support services, potentially improving engagement and outcomes in mental health and substance use care.
Cost and coverage: Medicare payment rules would be established to reimburse peer services, impacting program expenditures, provider participation, and billing practices.
Implementation: The success of implementation would depend on precise definitions of eligible facilities, service scope, provider qualifications, and the reimbursement methodology to ensure consistency and quality of care.

If you’d like, I can add a glossary of terms (e.g., peer support services, Title XVIII, Medicare Part A/B implications) or monitor for updated committee marks and full text to provide a deeper dive into definitions and payment provisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.