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SB 5555

Creating the profession of certified peer specialists.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Manka Dhingra and 7 co-sponsors

Creates Certified Peer Specialists and trainees to professionalize peer support; mandates billing certification by 2027, expanding access and standardizing provider training.

Effective date 7/23/2023*.
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Bill Summary · SB 5555

Summary — SB 5555: Creating the profession of certified peer specialists

Status: Enacted (Second Substitute Senate Bill 5555 as amended by the House). Chapter 469, 2023 Laws PV; partially vetoed by the Governor. Effective date: July 23, 2023. Key implementation dates in the law: July 1, 2025; January 1, 2027; December 1, 2027; July 1, 2028; July 1, 2030.

Purpose / Intent

To address behavioral health workforce shortages and expand access to peer-delivered behavioral health services by creating a formal, statewide certification for "certified peer specialists" (CPS) and "certified peer specialist trainees" (trainees). The law aims to remove financial barriers to licensing, enable broader billing for peer services (including beyond Medicaid), and professionalize the peer workforce while preserving peer-based, lived-experience practice.

Key provisions

  • Establishes two new certified health professions: certified peer specialists (CPS) and certified peer specialist trainees.
  • Creates a Washington State Certified Peer Specialist Advisory Committee (11 members: 9 peers, 1 community behavioral health agency rep, 1 public member) to advise the Department of Health (DOH) and Health Care Authority (HCA).
  • Certification authority and rulemaking vested in the Secretary of Health (DOH). DOH may set fees, forms, practice parameters, reciprocity, supervised experience requirements, continuing competency, and appeal processes.
  • Education and examination:
    • HCA must develop and offer an 80-hour education course and administer an associated oral exam.
    • Applicants must pass a written exam approved by DOH (with HCA oral exam and course completion as eligibility proof).
  • Certification requirements for CPS (summary):
    • Attest to self-identifying as a person with lived experience in recovery (1+ year) or as a parent/guardian of a youth with behavioral health services;
    • Complete the HCA education course and oral exam;
    • Pass the written exam;
    • Complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised experience as a trainee; and
    • Pay applicable fees (fee cap of $100 applies until July 1, 2030).
    • Alternative pathways: prior experience equivalency standards (to be adopted by DOH by July 1, 2026) and approved apprenticeship completion criteria.
  • Trainee certification: permits supervised practice while completing experience requirement; trainees must declare that they are actively pursuing supervised experience.
  • Approved supervisors:
    • Until July 1, 2028, may be a behavioral health provider with ≥2 years’ experience in teams that employ peer specialists; OR
    • A CPS who has completed ≥1,500 CPS work hours (≥500 in joint supervision), plus HCA supervisor training.
    • DOH must submit a study by Dec 1, 2027 on adequacy of supervisor supply and recommend ways to increase supervisor capacity.
  • Mandates certification for billing:
    • Beginning Jan 1, 2027, persons practicing peer support services must be certified (CPS or trainee) if they or their employer bills a health carrier or medical assistance program; registered agency-affiliated counselors billing medical assistance must be certified by that date.
  • Protections and employment considerations:
    • Limits time in voluntary substance abuse monitoring to the period needed to reach one year in recovery; applicants with ≥1 year recovery may not be required to participate.
    • Facilities serving vulnerable adults may not automatically deny employment to certain applicants when specific recovery and timing conditions are met.
  • Reciprocity: DOH may certify applicants credentialed in other states with equivalent requirements without examination.

Who is affected

  • Peer workers (current peer counselors, prospective CPS trainees) — new certification path, supervision, training, and (for those who bill) mandatory certification by Jan 1, 2027.
  • Behavioral health agencies, hospitals, emergency departments, and other settings that employ peers — billing rules, supervisor requirements, and integration of certified peers into teams.
  • Health carriers and medical assistance programs — must accept certified providers for billing under statutory timelines.
  • Department of Health and Health Care Authority — new responsibilities to develop training, exams, rules, fees, and advisory committee appointments.

Timeline & procedural highlights

  • Law effective July 23, 2023.
  • CPS and trainee professions established effective July 1, 2025.
  • Mandatory certification when billing takes effect Jan 1, 2027.
  • Supervisor supply study due to legislature by Dec 1, 2027.
  • Supervisor qualification grandfathering/transition provisions through July 1, 2028.
  • Fee cap of $100 for certification applies until July 1, 2030.

Potential impacts (expected)

  • Broader access to peer support across payers and settings (not limited to Medicaid).
  • Professional recognition and standardized training for peer workforce.
  • Short-term supervision capacity constraints may arise; DOH study required to address supply.
  • Reduced financial barrier to certification (initial fee cap) and explicit protections for applicants in recovery.

This summary captures the principal elements of SB 5555 as passed in 2023. For operational details, rulemaking, or final DOH/HCA guidance, consult the Department of Health and Health Care Authority materials and the enacted chapter (Chapter 469, 2023 Laws PV).

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

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