In This Issue | JUNE 2023 |
I want to wish everyone a Happy Spring and Welcome to the Summer of 2023!
It has been a busy year for the Society. I want to thank everyone for their continued support of the Society and participation in the workshops, seminars, and the Members Town Hall held April 22, 2023. The Education Committee is in the process of planning interesting workshops for the upcoming fall, including an Anti-Racism workshop tentatively titled Anti-Racism for Social Workers: Healing Racial Trauma. Planning is also underway for the Members Cocktail Party to be held in early fall, so please watch your email for its announcement.
The Members Town Hall was successful in that it provided a forum for open and honest dialogue between the members and the Board. This was the first of what I hope are one Members Town Hall to be held at least once per quarter, so if you missed the first, there will be others. I would like to extend a thank you to Melanie Hood-Wilson, our DEI consultant for her skillful facilitation of our Town Hall, which enabled and maintained a safe space for an open and honest conversation. Melanie is completing the first phase of the Society Needs Assessment, with members speaking with her individually and answering a survey. Once compiled, the next steps are for dissemination and discussion of next steps with members. Please look for this in the next quarter. Melanie will continue working with the Society on the needs assessment and creating a strategic plan for the Society.
As always, the Society continues our mission to advance the field of social work, including:
- Access to our vibrant listserv
- Sponsoring continuing education events
- Continuing our legislation and advocacy work
- Coordinating with our lobbyists on legislative issues of concern to social work
- Offering our mentorship program
- Providing low-cost therapy for MSW students.
I continue to welcome and encourage your feedback. What would make the Society more inviting and appealing to you? Of course, not every suggestion can be enacted, but I believe helpful information will emerge from your feedback.
As I end this note, I want us all to remember our mission as Social Workers, and the benefits we provide to our clients and others with our knowledge and humanity. I would also ask that we remember this in responding to our colleagues and their inquiries and comments.
As always I want to continue to foster a feeling of connection and the sense that this is a Society for everyone.
Thank you for your support of me and the Society!
Karla Abney, GWSCSW President
GWSCSW Annual Cocktail Party: Save the Date Announcement
SAVE THE DATE
REGISTRATION WILL START ON AUGUST 1
Look for details and information soon via GWSCSW email distribution
Sunday, September 10, 2023 | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Pinstripes in North Bethesda, MD
The next GWSCSW Annual Cocktail Party is scheduled for Sunday September 10, 2023 from 5- 8 PM at Pinstripes in North Bethesda, MD for GWSCSW members only. Registration will be required.
FREE admission will include Pinstripes catered appetizers. This is a fun opportunity to socialize and network with other members in an upbeat and welcoming private setting. Look for details and invitation soon via GWSCSW email distribution. Please contact Co Chairs Beverly Magida at bev.magida@verizon.net or Nancy Harris at nlharris1214@gmail.com with any questions.
Registration will be required due to a maximum capacity of 110 people.
For information contact Bev Magida (bev.magida@verizon.net) or Nancy Harris (nlharris1214@gmail.com).
Legislation & Advocacy | National
Laura Groshong, LICSW, CSWA Director of Policy and Practice
Telemental Health Coverage When PHE Ends
As was noted in the CSWA Announcement of March 16, 2023, “Telemental Health Coverage When PHE Ends” (https://www.clinicalsocialworkassociation.org/Announcements/13134039), there will be changes to clinical social work practice when the Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends on May 11, 2023. This paper elaborates on these additional changes which affect many more areas of practice.
HIPAA Changes
As we know, the kinds of video platforms that were allowed to conduct mental health treatment during the pandemic were relaxed. Platforms that did not meet the security requirements of HIPAA including Facetime, Skype, and others which did not provide a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), were accepted by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and not seen as a violation of HIPAA rules. This relaxation will change with the end of the PHE. The relaxation of providing the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) for telemental health will also be back in effect.
OCR is providing a 90-calendar day transition period for covered health care providers to come back into compliance with the HIPAA Rules with respect to their provision of telehealth. The transition period will be in effect beginning on May 12, 2023 and will expire at 11:59 p.m. on August 9, 2023. OCR will continue to exercise its enforcement discretion and will not impose penalties on covered health care providers for noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules that occurs in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth during the 90-calendar day transition period.
In other words, by August 9, 2023, all LCSWs will need to demonstrate that they are using a HIPAA compliant platform, e.g., ZoomPro, Doxy.me, and other platforms offer a BAA. OCR has not been penalizing LCSWs for the failure to give a GFE to patients who are self-pay or pro bono. These penalties will be back in effect as of August 9 if LCSWs are found to be non-compliant.
For more information go to: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/04/11/hhs-office-for-civil-rights-announces-expiration-covid-19-public-health-emergency-hipaa-notifications-enforcement-discretion.html
Changes to Codes and Modifiers for Medicare
Medicare has added more guidance in regard to codes which will be covered and modifiers needed for coverage. In addition to psychotherapy codes, there are several new codes available to clinical social workers for Behavioral Care Management which would include care integration and other services that have not been covered until now. The code will be G0323 for Care Management Services for Behavioral Health Conditions.
The details are:
- New for CY 2023: Describes general BHI that a clinical psychologist (CP) or clinical social worker (CSW) performs to account for monthly care integration
- A CP or CSW, serving as the focal point of care integration furnishes the mental health services
- At least 20 minutes of CP or CSW time per calendar month
- POS of 11 should be used through the end of 2023 for telemental health
Additionally, the modifier for Medicare claims is “GT” though “95” can be used for other claims. For more details go to: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/Downloads/BehavioralHealthIntegration.pdf
Medicare Advantage Changes
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans may offer continued telehealth benefits. Individuals in a Medicare Advantage plan should check with their plan about coverage for telehealth services. Remember that MA plans are commercial insurance and have their own coverage. Some MA plans may require patients to be seen in person at least once a year. After December 31, 2024, when these flexibilities expire, some MA Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) may offer telehealth services that allow primary care doctors to care for patients without an in-person visit, no matter where they live. If your health care provider participates in an ACO, check with them to see what telehealth services may be available. In short, the coverage for MA plans may be more variable than coverage for traditional Medicare.
For more information, go to: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/what-do-i-need-know-cms-waivers-flexibilities-and-transition-forward-covid-19-public-health.pdf
Private Health Insurance and Telehealth
As is currently the case during the PHE, coverage for telehealth and other remote care services will vary by private insurance plan after the end of the PHE. When covered, private insurance may impose cost-sharing, prior authorization, or other forms of medical management on telehealth and other remote care services. For additional information on your insurer’s approach to telehealth, contact your insurer’s customer service number located on the back of your insurance card.
Summary
For more detailed information in general, go tohttps://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/Downloads/BehavioralHealthIntegration.pdf.
The next few months will bring many changes. Let me know if you have any questions.
Legislation & Advocacy | DC
Adele Natter, Chair, DC Legislation and Advocacy Committee
License Renewals: Various staff members emphasized the importance of getting your application in early. If you wait, you may not receive your license before the current one expires. You should submit the application early, even if you have not completed all the required CEs (select option “Will complete CEUs by July 31”). The Board has hired a second Health Licensing Specialist, Anthea Issacs, to help Mavis.
The Pathways to Behavioral Health Bill, to create a pipeline of mental health workers, was funded for FY ’24, should it be passed. It would provide tuition and related expenses at UDC for District residents and DC employees to prepare for mental health careers.
The BOSW is having discussions with MD and VA to look at ways to provide reciprocity across our jurisdictions.
The next BOSW meeting will be June 26, 10:00 am, and will be Virtual for the public.
Adele Natter, LICSW, Co-Chairs the GWSCSW Legislation & Advocacy Committee for DC.. Adele has been an active participant on the Committee for the past four years; she represented GWSCSW on a Board of Social Work sub-committee, which included NASW and CSWA representatives. Adele maintains a private practice focused on helping individuals with anger and emotional regulation issues. She is also a Clinical Instructor in the Psychiatry Residency Program of the George Washington University Medical School. She holds a BA in Psychology from UCLA and received her MSW from the University of Maryland.
Legislation & Advocacy | Maryland
Judy Gallant, Chair, MD Legislation and Advocacy Committee
As many of you may have read on our listserve, Senate Bill 871, Social Workers – Sunset Extension, Notification of Complete Application, and Workgroup on Social Worker Requirements for Licensure, which, in part, addressed licensing requirements for social workers, was revised from its original form, which included suspending the requirement of passing the ASWB test as a requirement for licensure. The bill that passed was supported by our Society and establishes a Workgroup to be staffed by the Maryland Department of Health as well as many stakeholders. The workgroup will study whether ASWB testing should continue to be a requirement of different levels of licensure, and membership of the group is intended to be diverse, including one member from GWSCSW appointed by the President. Members of leadership asked our President, Karla J. Abney, if she would serve in that position, and she graciously accepted. See the Home Page of our website for her comments about this role and her decision to be our representative.
A number of you expressed interest in the Workgroup. Karla has requested that members “read the final version of HB871 and the requirements for the Workgroup and provide me with your thoughts, questions, and suggestions for possible discussion during Workgroup meetings. As there is the possibility of the formation of subgroups, or the need for an Alternate GWSCSW member, I ask anyone interested in serving, especially anyone from the groups adversely affected by the ASWB exam (e.g., African Americans, Persons over 50, the Deaf Community, and the ESL Community) to contact me [karla.j.abney@gmail.com] and let me know of your interest.”
There is another important Workgroup that will be reporting back to the MD General Assembly which we have an opportunity to serve on and are looking for volunteers willing to serve in that capacity. The MD Department of Health is working to identify individuals to serve on a legislatively-mandated Workgroup on Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander and Other Underrepresented Behavioral Health Professionals.” This group was established by HB 97 in 2022 and its effective date was extended one year by HB 615 this past session.
The Workgroup shall:
(1) identify and study the shortage of behavioral health professionals in the State who are Black, Latino, Asian American Pacific Islander, or otherwise underrepresented in the behavioral health profession; and
(2) assess and make recommendations on incentives or other methods to increase the number of underrepresented minorities.
This is not a bill that the GWS was specifically requested to appoint someone to serve on the Workgroup; however, they are now actively seeking people to serve in seats that have not yet been filled:
- a representative from the behavioral health profession
- an individual who provides social services
- 2 representatives from professional associations that are made up of and primarily work to represent and support underrepresented behavioral health professionals
- a representative from a hospital network in the state that primarily serve Black, Latino or Asian American Pacific Islanders
This is another opportunity to be involved in a Social Justice issue with the Society. Please let Judy Gallant know (judy.gallant@verizon.net) if you are interested in serving on this workgroup.
Insurance Issues
As I mentioned in the March News & Views article (which more fully explains Step Therapy), we collaborated with over 50 organizations to support bills that would limit insurance company review practices that impact mental health treatment. Unfortunately, Senate Bill 308/House Bill 305: Health Insurance-Utilization Review-Revisions failed to pass this session. These bills would have changed the UR process, including prohibiting the need for reauthorizing a prescription drug if a patient is doing well on the medication. As you can imagine, these bills were opposed by the insurance industry, but House and Senate Committees committed to work with advocates during the course of this year, in anticipation of similar legislation returning next session.
The General Assembly did pass Senate Bill 515/House Bill 785: Health Insurance-Step Therapy of Fail-First Protocol and Prior Authorization-Revisions which will become effective on 1/1/2024. This bill requires insurance plans to adopt a policy to approve a step therapy exception request if the provider believes the step therapy drug would be harmful to the patient. It also requires the Pharmacy Benefits Manager must then authorize coverage for the drug without going through prior authorization.
Another bill that our support helped pass was the “Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2023,” Senate Bill 534, which extends coverage and reimbursement for telehealth, including audio-only telephone conversations at the same rates as in-person sessions through June 30, 2025. Although not the permanent fix that we hoped for, this does gives us 2 more years to provide these services to our patients. During this time, the Department of Health will also be examining information about the efficacy of these services.
Behavioral Health
Senate Bill 283/House Bill 418: Mental Health-Workforce Development- Fund Established was passed, and creates the Behavioral Health Workforce Investment Fund to provide reimbursement for costs associated with educating, training, certifying, recruiting, placing, and retaining behavioral health professionals and paraprofessionals. The Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC), in coordination with stakeholders, must conduct a comprehensive behavioral health workforce needs assessment. The assessment will recommend an initial allocation to the fund and identify which programs the allocation will support, and is to be submitted to the General Assembly by October 15, 2024.
Senate Bill 101/House Bill 48: Maryland Medical Assistance Program-Collaborative Care Model Services-Implementation and Reimbursement Expansion (passed) requires Medicaid reimbursement for behavioral health services delivered in primary care settings. The “collaborative care model” is a patient-centered, evidence based approach for care coordination and care management, integrating physical and behavioral health care services in the primary care setting. This will include regular outcome monitoring, systemic behavioral health caseload review, and consultation for patients.
Senate Bill 362/House Bill 1249: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)-Planning Grant Funds and Demonstration Application (passed) will expand Maryland’s network of CCBHCs. CCBHCs provide services to the underserved, regardless of ability to pay. They must provide nine core services, including case management; somatic screening; veterans’ services; 24/7 crisis intervention peer support; psych rehab; screening, dx and assessment; treatment planning; and OP MH and Substance Use treatment.
There were many bills that impact us, our profession, and our clients lives that we assessed what position to take during this legislative session and wrote testimony for or against. I will continue to report on these bills in the September newsletter.
Judy Gallant, LCSW-C, is the director of the Society’s Legislation & Advocacy program, as well as chair of the Maryland Clinical Social Work Coalition, our GWSCSW legislative committee in Maryland. She maintains a private practice in Silver Spring.
Pamela Metz Kasemeyer, JD, as well as the firm of Schwartz, Metz & Wise, PA, represent us in Annapolis and guide our advocacy strategy. Specifically, we have also had the able assistance of Christine Krone during this legislative session. Ms. Kasemeyer is an acknowledged authority on Maryland’s health care and environmental laws and has represented a variety of interests before the Maryland General Assembly and regulatory agencies for more than 25 years.
Legislation & Advocacy | Virginia
Wayne Martin, Co-Chair, VA Legislation and Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
Edited excerpts from Sue Rowland’s final report:
Topics of bills from this years Virginia General Assembly (GA) of import to our members included monitoring the Professional Counselors’ success with their attempts to acquire Virginia GA’s agreement to participate in the Compact legislation (done! This bodes well for us in introducing the language of our Interstate Compact to legislators next year), legislation to streamline LCSW licensure without giving up the requirements necessary to protect the public consumers of your services, and issues related to the insurance coverage so necessary to support your practices. Oh yes, and opposition to legislation intended to tie your hands when serving kids in need of care. These were your primary policy issues.
Others you monitored to make sure nothing bad might result. And a third group you monitored because a portion of your membership might be interested.
That said…
** Insurance bills — you (& LPC’s) definitely have the attention of the GA as it related to how you are viewed and “treated” by the insurance industry that the GA has control over. Some passed, others put on hold -- though some parts in those bills are covered in the ones that passed. And work is yet to be done. The legislators need to have hard data about your experiences with the insurance industry as you simply work to do your jobs helping folks in need of mental health professionals. Your prep work in a survey of VA members will be most helpful here.
Our group, the joint legislative committee of the VSCSW and GWSCSW, took positions on 7 policy issues for which bills were introduced this session, to either support or oppose. Another set of bills were either “watched” to determine if positions were needed during the course of the session, or were monitored as of “interest" to some members of the Societies.
From Wayne Martin:
The GWSCSW membership may already know that the VSCSW lobbyist, Sue Rowland, has retired from active legislative work and her office is closed. However, before she retired, she recommended a colleague, Mark E. Smith, as her successor. The joint VSCSW/GWSCSW legislative committee, after interviewing Smith on zoom, examining his credentials and background, decided – unanimously -- to offer him a contract as our VSCSW/GWS lobbyist. His contract was APPROVED by both the VSCSW and GWSCSW Boards. His priorities, in addition to monitoring legislation in the 2024 Virginia General Assembly and assisting us in making contacts/connections with legislators in Northern Virginia, will be to assist in passing legislation for the “Interstate Compact”. His full contract is available for review by any Society member. The cost of his services will be split evenly by the VSCSW and the GWSCSW. He begins his work with us as of July 1st, 2023. The L and A committee looks forward to a productive relationship with Smith. If there are any questions, please forward them to Wayne A. Martin (GWS liaison to the VSCSW and chair of the GWSCSW Virginia L&A Committee) at wamnoles@aol.com or to Branch Director, Judy Gallant.
EDUCATION BRANCH
Lynn Grodzki, LCSW-C, Education Branch Director
The Society offered a stellar variety of over twenty, separate, CEU Zoom workshops during the 2022-2023 term to provide low-cost, high-quality education in ethics, clinical methods and practice development. Workshops were well attended and from the evaluations, we know how appreciative our participants are to be able to meet their licensure requirements from our roster of programs. The presenters are consistently highly rated. We believe that our workshops are as current and well-grounded in important clinical topics, and rival any other conference offering, but for a fraction of the CEU price.
Programming for this term included presentations from a wonderful group of accomplished speakers, many of whom developed unique workshops just for our membership. We sponsored the following titles (and many more) during this term:
- Psychotherapy In Black & White: Anti-Black Racism In Black Client/White Therapist Dyads
- New Approaches To Working With Men In Psychotherapy: The Impact Of Men’s Hidden Fears Of Women In Intimate Relationships
- Whats Age Got To Do With It? Shortages Of Medicare Mental Health Providers
- Menopause: Toward Wellness And Transformation
- Depressed, Borderline, Or Bipolar?
- Pandemic Anxiety And Depression: A New Perspective. And Profound Pandemic Lessons
- Making Peace With Making Money: Reconciling Service, Profit And Other Therapy-Based Financial Challenges
- Working With High Conflict Couples
To see the full listing of offerings for this 2022-23 term, please go to this link: https://www.gwscsw.org/events-calendar
Our online workshops are professionally staffed by Donna Dietz, our Executive Administrator, who handles all the registration, recording and marketing for us. We thank her for her dedicated efforts to keep our educational division working so well.
If you would like to volunteer your time for the Society and love learning, be part of the Educational Branch. We welcome your input and have space on committees, where you can help us shape the CEU offerings for Fall. This is a great committee for those who have topics or ideas about the workshops they would like the Society to sponsor.
We need your help! We welcome your proposals for the Fall 2023 list of Zoom CEU workshops. Any member can propose a workshop to present. It’s easy to get started, just see this link: https://www.gwscsw.org/GWSCSW-Educational-Event-Guidelines
- CLICK HERE to submit a proposal.
- After your proposal is submitted it will be reviewed by the Education Chair.
- Once accepted, you will be promptly contacted to confirm all the specifics of your upcoming workshop.
- We handle everything else: marketing, technical set-up, registration and we pay you an honorarium for your time and effort.
We are happy to advise or mentor you through this process. Our members love attending our CEU offerings and presenters find the experience of working with our team satisfying and valuable. Please join our roster of 2023 speakers!
Note: To submit a proposal, you must be a licensed clinical social worker and a full member of the GWSCSW. (Non-members or non-social workers may present in conjunction with you.)
If you have any questions, please contact Donna Dietz, GWSCSW Administrator: admin@gwscsw.org
MENTOR PROGRAM report
Nancy Harris, Mentor Liaison
The Mentor Program is available for GWSCSW members still in school, newly-graduated, approaching their clinical licensure and wondering about the next steps. Mentors can assist with questions about career direction, licensing, continuing education, relationships with supervisors, and decisions about what to do after clinical licensure. Mentorship is a powerful tool to enhance new social workers’ development.
If you are a member of GWSCSW and interested in finding a mentor, please fill out the Mentor Program form or contact Nancy Harris, LCSW-C, coordinator of the Mentor Program, for questions. Her phone is (301) 385-3375, email is nlharris1214@gmail.www.gwscsw.com/mentoring
Experienced social workers are always welcome to be mentors themselves. The application form to be a mentor is found at the same place on the GWSCSW website.
GWSCSW Job BoardGWSCSW is proud to feature a job resource to connect career opportunities with our members. Visit the GWSCSW job board to look for jobs or to post a job today. Manage Your Career:
Recruit for Open Positions:
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Advertisements, accompanied by full payment, must be received by GWSCSW by the first of the month preceding publication. Material should be sent to admin@gwscsw.org. For questions about advertising, call 202-537-0007.
Online Intimacy Workshops!
All workshops are offered on Saturday mornings from 10am to 1pm and are open to individuals and couples. The 101 workshop is perfect for those who need help with their intimacy and want to take the first step. The 201 workshop is excellent for participants looking to build on the foundation from 101, explore more nuances, and learn additional concepts. Read more information and sign up here: https://aliveintimacy.com/workshop/ | Please contact Rachel Keller with any questions: Rachel@AliveIntimacy.com.
Adolescent/Young Adult Therapy: CBT, DBT, Medical Illness Counseling, Unified Protocol, Group Therapy. Powerful interventions for depression, anxiety, anger, perfectionism, fear, shame, rumination, social anxiety, ASD and more. Rathbone & Associates. Rely on Experts. 301-229-9490, www.rathbone.info.
Professional CEUs: Rathbone & Associates Professional Training Program. See our current schedule at www.rathbone.info, click on “Professional Trainings.” Current topics, quality speakers, practical skills.
Office for Rent in Gaithersburg MD
Lovely Office Space available for rent! In a four office suite with a shared waiting area, small kitchen and restroom. One office is free and available to rent full time. It is unfurnished and can be decorated as you please. The office suite is on the ground level and handicap accessible. The space is quiet and has a very nice atmosphere. WIFI is available and included in the very reasonable rent price.
The office suite is located at Shady Grove Court close to I 270 and 355, has a bus stop very close and plenty of free parking.
If you are interested please email johanna.smoot@gmail.com or call 301 221 0483
Ellicott City: Full time (unfurnished) & part time (attractively furnished) offices available with flexible terms, WIFI, Fax, copier, handicapped access, staff bathrooms, kitchen, and ample parking available. Following CDC guidelines. Congenial professional environment. Convenient to routes 29,40,32,70 & 695. Contact: Dr. Mike Boyle, 410-206-6070 or psycmike@gmail.com
Classified Ads: 75¢ per word | Minimum price $15 (20 words)
Display Ads: Full page 7 x 9¼ $325 | Half page $250| Quarter page $125 | Eighth page $75
Electronic submission (JPG) preferred. Publication does not in any way constitute endorsement or approval by GWSCSW, which reserves the right to reject advertisements for any reason at any time.
Consider advertising in the next issue of News & Views
Post ads for:
- continuing education training,
- office space, upcoming groups,
- job opportunities, specialized services, etc.
Please get in touch with Donna Dietz, GWSCSW Administrator (admin@gwscsw.org) to reserve your space in the next issue.
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News & Views
Nancy Pines, Editor
News & Views is published four times a year: March, June, September and December.
News & Views Submission Guidelines
If you have a submission, please send it to me: npines12@aol.com. I edit the articles and reports and send them on to Donna Dietz, who does the layout.
Articles: Focus on your area of expertise and practice, ethical dilemmas, responses to events in the media or other topics relevant to clinical social work. Articles should be 500–700 words.
Articles expressing the personal views of members on issues affecting the social work profession are welcome and will be reviewed and published at the discretion of the editor. Signed articles reflect the views of the authors; Society endorsement is not intended. Articles are subject to editing for space and clarity.
Committee Reports: For each newsletter, I hope to hear from all branch and committee people to inform us of their activities.
Out & About: Share news about you: an article you’ve written, if you’ve been in the news, taught a class, earned a new certification or are a singer, artist or writer. Submissions should be 50 words or less. Send all submissions to npines12@aol.com.
Advertising: admin@gwscsw.org
Next submission deadline: August 15, 2023
Need to reach a Board member? Click here for the listing of the GWSCSW Board of Directors