Tips and Tools for Social Workers

Optum Behavioral Health Care has informed NASW that a second wave of recovery overpayments will take place between August 2-8, 2024.  The recovery may impact clinical social workers who are Optum Behavioral Health Care providers and provided services to Medicare Advantage Plan beneficiaries and were reimbursed incorrectly at 100 percent of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Physician Fee Schedule. The recovery seeks 25 percent of the 100 percent reimbursement. The Social Security Act, Section 1833 (a)(1)(F), confirms that clinical social workers are paid 75 percent of the physician fee schedule.

NASW and the American Medical Association, with assistance from Mathematica, are leading a national Clinical Practice Information survey of clinical social workers and other healthcare professionals to collect updated and accurate data on practice costs and the hours of patient care that social workers provide.

NASW regularly collaborates with federal agencies and national organizations to enhance service delivery to older adults and to advance public policy benefitting older people. Professional development programming represents one strategy to achieve these goals. This document describes several virtual, national-level professional development programs offered by other organizations that are related to NASW and relevant to social workers. Each program is free, and continuing education credits are not available. Programs are listed from most to least recent and include information about on-demand access.

Every year, NASW joins advocates around the globe in observing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15. This publication outlines elder abuse–focused activities throughout the month of June, describes NASW’s recent activities to address elder abuse, and provides a robust resource list you can use throughout the year. 

The federal government is soliciting three types of proposals to fund programs that prevent and address elder abuse. Social workers play critical roles in elder abuse programming, including programs funded by the federal government. Read this NASW post for a summary of each funding opportunity.

Older Americans Month (OAM) recognizes the contributions and achievements of older adults and highlight important trends in aging. OAM is also a time to deepen our commitment to making our communities age inclusive—that is, places that support all of us as we age. This publication explores the OAM theme for 2024, describes selected NASW activities to support social work with older adults, and provides a robust resource list.