The fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget includes critical funding to support the work of peer recovery coaches (PRCs) in Michigan hospitals. Kelsey Ostergren, director of health policy initiatives, MHA, and Michelle Norcross, senior director of safety & quality, MHA Keystone Center, share the impact these resources have on patients and communities.
What is a peer recovery coach, and what role do they play in improving patient outcomes?
Ostergren: Peer recovery coaches (PRCs) are individuals who combine lived experience with technical knowledge to assist individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery. In addition to offering patients lifesaving support and resources, PRCs provide an individualized approach to long-term management of SUD.
Peer recovery coaches play a unique role in the hospital setting, engaging with individuals during a time when peer-support is vital. PRCs not only serve as a mentor and role model in recovery, but remove barriers to care by connecting individuals to resources and community.
There is mounting evidence to support the role of PRCs in the recovery process including increased patient retention in treatment programs, sustained reduction in substance use, increased access to social support, decrease criminal justice involvement and decreased use of emergency department services.
Norcross: The MHA and MHA Keystone Center convened member hospitals using PRCs to better understand how these services have been operationalized and what impact they have on Michigan patients. In these discussions, we learned:
- Hospitals who offer PRC services indicate 87% – 89% of eligible patients accept PRC support and share strong positive feedback about the experience.
- Patients who work with PRCs are less likely to be readmitted within 30 days compared to their peers who are eligible but don’t accept PRC services.
- Hospitals with a fully integrated PRC model engage more than 1,000 patients per year across the ED and inpatient settings.
- PRCs connect 65% – 75% of patients with outpatient treatment and support services upon discharge. This is in stark contrast to a 2022 study revealing that only 11% of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) patients presenting to the ED were referred for outpatient treatment.
By expanding the use of PRC-delivered support services, Michigan hospitals can improve health outcomes and sustain recovery for at-risk patients and communities.
What is the biggest barrier when it comes to supporting peer recovery services in hospitals?
Ostergren: Many hospitals participating in the MHA Keystone Center Emergency Department Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (ED MOUD) program have highlighted the importance of peer recovery coaches for connecting SUD patients to treatment. Unfortunately, one of the most significant barriers is that these services cannot be reimbursed. Hospitals who want to offer PRCs are often required to fill these roles using temporary funding (i.e. grant dollars) or by contracting community mental health (CMH) agencies. While CMH resources have been critical, hospitals and health systems offer a unique touchpoint for patients with SUD.
How has collaboration helped secure critical funding to maintain PRC services in hospitals?
Ostergren: Beyond the work of the MHA and MHA Keystone Center teams, there have been numerous partnerships that were instrumental in advocating for funding to support PRCs in our hospitals and health systems. Our members participating in the ED MOUD program and those that employ PRCs were critical when it came to understanding this care model and identifying ways to support it. Additional stakeholders who provided insight, direction, guidance and support, include:
- The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM)
- Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS)
- Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI)
- Face Addiction Now (FAN, formerly Families Against Narcotics)
- Michigan Association of Counties (MAC)
- Opioid Advisory Committee (OAC)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Where can Michigan hospitals interested in learning more about peer recovery services and reimbursement opportunities go to learn more?
Norcross: The MHA Keystone Center is partnering with CFSEM to offer two virtual learning collaboratives in September for hospitals interested in learning more about peer recovery services and reimbursement. Members will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with peers who have successfully implemented peer recovery services.
Upcoming Peer Recovery Learning Collaboratives:
Register for peer recovery learning collaboratives here.
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