— Lyn Stoesen, News Staff
NASW has published two new practice updates for clinical social workers. The documents are posted on NASW’s Website.
The Clinical Social Work Practice update “2008 Medicare Bonus Incentive Program for Clinical Social Workers” provides details about the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative, which allows for bonus incentive payments for clinical social workers who report quality measures on claims and correctly file those claims for reimbursement. Participation in the program is optional at this time.
The practice update explains the six quality measures for use by clinical social workers and provides information about reporting tools for the incentive program.
“NASW is advocating for additional measures for clinical social workers in order that they may have a variety of measures to choose from when participating in the bonus incentive program,” the update notes.
A Clinical Social Work Practice Alert, “Have You Been Selected to Participate in the Clinical Social Work Practice Information Survey?” includes information about a comprehensive, multi-speciality survey of clinical social workers and other health care professionals that NASW and other organizations are conducting.
The practice alert provides information about the purpose of the survey and stresses the importance of completing the survey for those selected to participate.
Completing the survey is “very important, especially since the survey will determine payment for clinical social workers who render psychotherapy services,” the practice alert notes. Information about how to contact Dmrkynetec, the firm conducting the survey, is provided.
Both documents were prepared by NASW Senior Policy Associate Mirean Coleman.