CRS Advocacy & Systems Navigation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization primarily oversees the development of Certified Recovery Specialist credentialing standards at the national level?
- The American Medical Association (AMA)
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (Correct answer)
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
Correct answer: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA plays a lead role in establishing national guidelines and standards for peer recovery support services, including the CRS credential.
Question 2: A person in recovery wants to appeal a denial of Medicaid coverage for residential treatment. What is the best role for the CRS in this situation?
- File the appeal on behalf of the individual without involving them
- Help the individual understand the appeals process and support them in submitting their appeal (Correct answer)
- Advise the individual to accept the denial and seek alternative funding
- Contact the Medicaid office directly and negotiate on their behalf
Correct answer: Help the individual understand the appeals process and support them in submitting their appeal
The CRS role is to support and empower the individual to navigate the appeals process themselves, not to act independently on their behalf.
Question 3: The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires that:
- All states must fund residential substance use treatment programs
- Health insurers provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as for medical and surgical benefits (Correct answer)
- Employers must offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) covering addiction treatment
- Federal agencies must set limits on how much insurers can charge for addiction services
Correct answer: Health insurers provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as for medical and surgical benefits
MHPAEA requires that insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorders be no more restrictive than coverage for medical and surgical conditions.
Question 4: When helping a peer navigate the criminal justice system, a CRS should primarily:
- Provide legal counsel and representation at hearings
- Inform the individual of diversion programs and treatment alternatives to incarceration (Correct answer)
- Communicate with prosecutors on the individual's behalf without consent
- Advise the individual to plead guilty to access faster treatment
Correct answer: Inform the individual of diversion programs and treatment alternatives to incarceration
A CRS can inform individuals about diversion programs and treatment court options, connecting them to legal resources while supporting recovery.
Question 5: Which term describes a coordinated approach where multiple agencies work together to provide seamless services to individuals in recovery?
- Referral triage
- Integrated service delivery (Correct answer)
- Case stratification
- Parallel processing
Correct answer: Integrated service delivery
Integrated service delivery refers to agencies coordinating care so that individuals experience seamless transitions and do not fall through the gaps between services.
Question 6: A CRS wants to connect someone in recovery to supported employment services. Which federal program specifically supports competitive employment for people with disabilities including substance use disorder?
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- The Ticket to Work Program administered by the Social Security Administration (Correct answer)
- The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) only
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Correct answer: The Ticket to Work Program administered by the Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work program helps Social Security beneficiaries with disabilities access employment services and supports.
Question 7: What does the term 'warm handoff' mean in the context of systems navigation?
- Sending a referral letter by mail and waiting for the service provider to follow up
- Personally introducing the individual to the next service provider or support person to ensure continuity (Correct answer)
- Transferring electronic health records to a new provider without patient contact
- Having the individual navigate the referral process independently to build self-sufficiency
Correct answer: Personally introducing the individual to the next service provider or support person to ensure continuity
A warm handoff involves direct personal introduction between the individual and the next provider or support person, reducing the likelihood of dropping out of care.
CRS Advocacy & Systems Navigation 2
Which organization primarily oversees the development of Certified Recovery Specialist credentialing standards at the national level?