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Legislative Updates
State Updates
Save the Date: The Chapter's Legislative Action Committee (LAC) will host the 2024 NASW-WA Policy Conference on February 19, 2024. This year, we will offer an in-person opportunity to learn about the policy process in Washington and discuss NASW-WA's policy priorities for 2024.
National Updates
Action Alert: Mental Health/SUD Equity Rule
NASW sent this Action Alert to the advocacy listserv. By way of background, in July, the Biden Administration proposed new rules to advance parity—the basic idea that mental health condition and substance use disorder care are covered at the same level of care for physical health conditions. Now, the public has a chance to comment on the proposal. The number of comments matters, so we need our members’ help.
Action Alert: The Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act
The Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act (H.R. 4638) has been introduced in the US House. Make your voice heard. Urge your member of Congress to support H.R. 4638 to allow clinical social workers to bill for services within their existing state scope of practice. Click here to take action.
Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder Legislative Agenda
The U.S. House’s Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force Legislative Agenda for 2023 includes both the “Improving Access to Mental Health Act” and the “Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act.” Both are legislative priorities that NASW has done considerable work to advance. NASW included both bills in our ALM Hill Day in June.
NASW Comments on CMS Rule
In July, CMS issued a proposed rule that announced and solicited public comments on the proposed policy changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2024. NASW’s Practice Team coordinated the review process, reviewed the 2,000-page document, prepared a draft response, and invited the Office of General Counsel, Ethics and Professional Review, and the Policy Team to participate in the process. The result is a 23-page NASW comment letter that was submitted to CMS on September 11. In the areas of reimbursement, telehealth, and behavioral health, CMS is proposing several positive changes for clinical social workers in 2024.
You can advocate via NASW’s action alerts, here.
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