Third Party Payers

Beginning July 1, 2008, clinical social workers who are Medicare providers received an increase in reimbursement. This increase is the result of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), enacted on July 15, 2008 (also known as HR 6331, public law number 110­-275).

Medicaid is the largest program in the nation, providing health and mental health services to more than 10 million individuals and families with low income and few resources. It became law in 1965, as a cooperative venture between federal and state governments to provide health care to eligible needy people, including children, the aged, the blind, and the disabled.

Magellan Behavioral Health Care announced on October 8, 2003 that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York gave final approval for them to exit Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection.

Magellan Behavioral Health Care filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 11, 2003,  in an attempt to reduce a debt of almost $1 billion. Magellan has reached an agreement with key creditors on its proposed financial restructuring plan which would reduce its debt by $500 million, and therefore be out of Chapter 11 by the fall of 2003.  

The "secret shopper" is one of several methods used to monitor access to care by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). It was listed as a recommended example in Surveyor Guidelines for the Accreditation of Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organizations and was removed in 2001 from NCQA’s list of examples because of concerns raised by NASW and other behavioral health provider groups. Although it is no longer recommended by NCQA, it continues to be an "accepted" practice.