Tips and Tools for Social Workers

Social workers serve clients and families who access and benefit from many different programs, several of which are approaching key end dates. This Tips and Tools document outlines upcoming dates that may signal changes in health insurance coverage and access to health care services. Social workers are trusted partners who can help individuals prepare for these changes.

NASW is developing a task force for the revision of the 2013 Guidelines for Social Work Safety in the Workplace. The guidelines were created to establish safety measures and protocols for social workers within the workplace. Social workers utilize these guidelines as a resource to help create, develop, and assist communities, private and public agencies, local, state, and federal policymakers to create a safe working environment in areas where social workers are employed.

In December 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a request for information regarding the Essential Health Benefits covered under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Essential Health Benefits (EHB) include 10 categories of services that health insurance plans must cover under the ACA.

On December 2, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights released for public comments the Notice for Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) regarding the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records.

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for calendar year (CY) 2023, released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in November 2022, addresses Medicare payment policies for physicians and other Medicare providers between January 1 and December 31). These federal regulations reflect input provided by NASW and other stakeholders (including Medicare beneficiaries, beneficiary advocates, and providers) during a two-month public comment period for a corresponding proposed rule.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced updates to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) which can be found in the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and the QPP Resource Library. This document provides updates that are pertinent to clinical social workers (CSWs).