Social Workers Descend on Washington DC for 2024 Advocacy Day

On June 18, 2024, hundreds of social workers from across the United States descended upon Washington DC to meet with Senate and House staff to advocate for critical legislation to support the social work profession at the 2024 NASW Advocacy Day. 

Thank you to the offices of Representative Bill Huizenga, Representative Elissa Slotkin, Representative Haley Stevens, Representative Hillary Scholten, Representative Shri Thanedar, Senator Debbie Stabenow, and Senator Gary Peters, for taking the time to listen to our amazing social workers. Since our meetings, we have already seen Senator Gary Peters sign on as a cosponsor of the Telemental Health Care Access Act!

A special thank you as well to our Michigan social workers who spent the full day in nearly 100 degree weather advocating on behalf of your colleagues: Rae Johnson, Shannon Riley, Dr. Brittany Turner, Jennifer Klauth, Danielle Haskin, and Duane Breijak.

Our larger social work community can support these efforts as well and take action on the Improving Access to Mental Health Act, the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act, and the Telemental Health Care Access Act at www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy.

The Improving Access to Mental Health Act (S. 838/H.R. 1638)

LEAD SPONSORS:

• Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Barrasso (R-WY) and Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01). Other Michigan co-sponsors: Sen. Gary Peters and Rep. Shri Thanedar

PROVISIONS:

• Increase Medicare Reimbursement Rates for clinical social workers (CSWs) from 75% to 85% of the Physician Fee Schedule.

• Increase Access to CSW Services for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

• Residents by allowing CSWs to bill independently at SNFs.

• Provide Access to CSW Services that Help Medicare Beneficiaries Who are Coping with Physical Health Conditions by reimbursing CSWs for providing Health and Behavior Assessment and Intervention (HBAI) services. 

Telemental Health Care Access Act (S. 3651/H.R. 3432)

LEAD SPONSORS:

• Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA-07). Other Michigan co-sponsors: Sen. Gary Peters, Rep. Shri Thanedar, Rep. Debbie Dingell, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib

PROVISIONS:

• Remove barriers to care for Medicare beneficiaries by permanently removing the six month in-person requirement.

• This bill would align telemental health care with current policy for individuals seeking medical services or substance use disorder services, which have no in-person requirements. 

Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act (S. 462/H.R. 4933)

LEAD SPONSORS:

• Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Grace Napolitano (D-CA-31) and Annie Kuster (D-NH-02). Other Michigan co-sponsors: Rep. Shri Thanedar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib

PROVISIONS:

• Helps to expand the mental health care workforce, including social workers, in areas with the greatest need by expanding the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program to relieve workforce shortages. 

• Repay up to $250,000 in eligible student loan repayment for mental health professionals who work in mental health professional shortage areas.

• For each year of service, repay one-sixth of the individual’s eligible loans.