The Aware Advocate - Legislative Alerts

By Laura Groshong, LICSW, Director, Policy and Practice
Here are two issues which I hope you will all address with your members of Congress and your state legislature.
For Members of Congress:

• H.R. 2474 is a bill which would improve Medicare reimbursement rates by using the rate of inflation as the way to adjust reimbursement each year instead of the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) which does not use inflation as a factor. 
• H.R. 2474 would also tie reimbursement to the Medicare Economic Index which is based on provider expenses and other economic trends.
• Medicare rates have not increased since 2001, making payments 26% lower today than they were then, when adjusting for inflation. This is one of the major reasons that LCSWs are opting out as Medicare providers. There is a freeze on updated reimbursement until 2026.
• Though this is a House bill, please let your Senators know as well.  You can contact them all at https://www.congress.gov/contact-us .  Here is a message you can use or change it to use your own words: “I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a constituent. Please support H.R. 2474 which will make Medicare reimbursement more equitable for mental health services. Reimbursement rates have not increased since 2001 and are therefore 26% less when adjusted for inflation. LCSWs are opting out as Medicare providers, leaving vulnerable beneficiaries without adequate mental health services. Thank you for your support.”

For State Legislatures:

• The Social Work Compact is now available to be passed by state legislatures. There are 10 states which have begun the process of getting the bill passed; Missouri has already passed the bill. We need six more states to create the Commission to oversee the Compact. 
• Here is a map of the 26 states that have passed the Counselor Compact, https://counselingcompact.org/map/. These states should be open to passing the Social Work Compact as well.
• For more information on how to make your state legislators aware of the Social Work Compact, go to the CSWA website at https://www.clinicalsocialworkassociation.org/Announcements/13212620.

Please let me know when you have sent messages to Congress and members of your state legislatures. Thanks for your help.

Contact:
Laura Groshong, LICSW, CSWA Director of Policy and Practice
lwgroshong@clinicalsocialworkassociation.org