Update on Telehealth Waivers for Clinical Social Workers

Mirean Coleman, LICSW, CT Director of Clinical Practice

February 2025

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.

There are many unknowns at this time regarding the status of the telehealth waivers come April 1, 2025, and it has been challenging to verify information. NASW will keep its members informed as soon as information is made available from Congress regarding the status of the telehealth waivers.

The association is advocating for permanency of the telehealth waivers. Clinical social workers and others can help by contacting their congressional representatives to inform them of their telehealth concerns. An action alert urging Congress to expand the telehealth waivers is forthcoming.

For future updates, clinical social workers should contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor or NASW at clinical.practice@socialworkers.org.