The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has received inquiries from clinical social workers (CSWs) who are experiencing delayed reimbursements and administrative burdens from TRICARE, the Department of Defense’s health care program that serves active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, and their families.
Currently, most of the Medicare waivers that were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic are scheduled to end on March 31, 2025. This includes the geographic and origination site restrictions and the in-person requirements for telehealth services. Unless Congress passes legislation to extend the waivers, clinical social workers and other Medicare providers may be required to adhere to pre-COVID Medicare reimbursement guidelines. This may significantly impact clinical social workers and other providers who have closed their in-person offices and developed telehealth practices.