In This Issue | JUNE 2024 |
Welcome to the Summer of 2024!
I bring greetings to our membership from myself and my co-President Steve Szopa. I want to thank everyone for their continued support of the Society and participation in the workshops, seminars, and Town Halls. The Education Committee continues to plan and hold interesting workshops for our membership, and anyone interested in providing training is encouraged to contact our Education Committee Chair, Ed Geraty. We are continuing in the completion of our Strategic Plan, and our work to become more outwardly facing to the membership, and increasing the atmosphere of inclusiveness to make all members feel welcome. We are continuing to collect data from the 2024 Membership Survey; please take a moment to complete it if you haven't already done so. This survey, the first we've done in recent years, will allow us to know our membership in order to develop programming and activities for all, and make a more welcoming Society.
I want to give a Thank You to the Chair of the Social Justice Committee Rachel Keller for all the work she's done with her Committee as well as working with the DEI Consultant and the Communications Task Force. Rachel Thank You. I also want to give a Thank You to Erika Bugaj who headed our Community Branch, and the tremendous job she's done. Erika Thank You for your service. I also want to give a Thank You to Kate Rossier for the work she's done as overseeing the Low Cost Therapy Program for MSW students, and for being an advisor to the President. Kate Thank You for your service.
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.
As the current Board begins to transition, I want to encourage anyone interested in going the extra step in supporting the Society to think about volunteering to serve in one of the vacant or soon to vacant positions. Anyone interested in volunteering sometime, please let me know.
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.
On behalf of myself and my co-President Steve Szopa, Thank You for your support of myself and the Society!
Karla Abney, GWSCSW President
Join the GWSCSW Board!
Lots of Board positions are open!
Please consider joining the Board of GWSCSW. We are looking for a new group of dedicated people to help guide us in the next 2 year cycle. Serving on the Board is an excellent opportunity to make an impact and contribute to our success. Prior experience is welcome, but not needed. The Board is willing to support and guide new Board members.
We cannot function as an organization without Board Members! We need a new President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In addition Committee heads and committee members are needed.
Key Benefits of Joining the Board
- Influence GWSCSW’s vision
- Help shape our long and short-term goals. Your insights and expertise will be invaluable as we implement DEI strategies, diversifying membership, continuing our excellent continuing education programs, and reaching out to new members in all areas of the DMV.
- Contribute your Skills and Expertise
- You have unique skills, experiences, and networks to support our projects and programs. For example, work on reaching out to MD and DC’s legislatures and
- Boards regarding the Social Work Compact. Have a say in the ASWB exam staying or going or changing. Help address these and other challenges in the next 2 years.
- Develop your own leadership skills
- Serving on the Board is an excellent way to develop your own leadership skills. These will be useful in guiding your clinic, group practice, your community, or even your family!
- Make a meaningful difference in GWSCSW’s future
As we noted above, this is an important time for GWSCSW as we face questions about not just the future of GWSCSW, but also of the social work profession. You will play a crucial role in GWSCSW’s continued success. Your contributions will help us achieve our mission and face the important questions that lie ahead.
If you are interested in the joining the Board, we would be happy to discuss what this will entail and what the duties of each position are. Please let any one of us know if you have questions or would like to schedule a call to learn more.
Thanks for your consideration! We look forward to working together.
Best regards,
Nominating Committee
Steve Szopa | steveszopa@gmail.com
Ed Geraty | geraty@insiteintegrative.com
Nancy Harris | Nlharris1214@gmail.com -- (301) 385-3375
Kate Rossier | kazrossier@hotmail.com -- (571) 332-1184
Legislation & Advocacy BRANCH REPORT
Judy Gallant, Chair, MD Legislation and Advocacy Committee
I want to recognize Wayne Martin for the time and effort he has given to our Society as the chair of the Virginia Legislation & Advocacy (L&A) Committee over the past few years. He has faithfully reported the important issues going on in Virginia that impact us as clinical social workers. He attended meetings with our Virginia lobbyists, Susan Rowland in previous years and Mark Smith, this past year, along with colleagues from the Virginia Society’s L&A group, to discuss priorities and strategies involved in reaching our goals with specific legislation. In general, and for me personally, he provided wise and calm council. We all owe him our thanks. Now he is truly retired and can travel at will! Safe travels, Wayne, and all the best!
But that brings me to another part of this report - we need somebody to step up and become part of our Virginia Legislation & Advocacy team! I believe we all want to have the greatest impact possible in all our jurisdictions, including in Virginia. Whoever steps forward will have the amazing opportunity to work with Mark Smith, our dynamic and delightful new lobbyist in VA. Mark, our colleagues from the Virginia Society for Clinical Social Work (VSCSW), and the GWSCSW team together decide on priorities and strategies to keep protections for our clients and our profession in place, and to propose new strategies when necessary. You cannot believe how empowering (and how much fun) this will be!
I look forward to meeting our next Virginia L&A advocate! Please let me know. You can reach me at 301-717-1004 or at judy.gallant@verizon.net.
Legislation & Advocacy | DC
Adele Natter, Chair, DC Legislation and Advocacy Committee
In the past few months, DC Legislation & Advocacy Committee has been busy advocating for the Social Work Interstate Compact.
Some GWSCSW members have done the following:
- Written talking points for use in writing emails and talking to City Council Members (CMs)
- Made contact with the offices of CMs Frumin, Allen, Parker, and Gray
- Educated them about GWSCSW and social workers, who we are and what we do Actively listened to hear and understand their concerns and hesitations,
- Then writing additional talking points to address legislators’ concerns
- Talked with the president of the DC Mental Health Counselors Association -- they got a Counseling Compact sponsored and introduced in DC
- Raised the profile of GWSCSW
- Introduced the idea to our Board of hiring a DC lobbyist for the Compact issue
- Began working with NASW Metro DC Executive Director, Debra Riggs, on combining our advocacy efforts and finding a lobbyist
A separate effort has been looking at clinical social workers vis a vis insurance companies. Why have our reimbursement rates not been raised for so many years? With whom could we work to effect change in how insurance companies treat us?
If YOU are interested in having a Social Work Compact, or working on insurance issues, YOU need to step up! Everybody can do something: whether it’s research; making or using your contacts with other agencies or helping professions; writing to local legislators or meeting with their staff (we have talking points for guidance); or writing or attending Board of Social Work meetings and letting the Board know how important the Compact is to us.
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
This report is based, in part, on the multi-page summary of this year’s legislative session from our lobbyists, Christine Krone and Pam Metz Kasemeyer, JD; Schwartz, Metz and Wise, PA.
Interstate Social Work Licensure Compact
It is likely not news to most of you that the Social Work Licensure Compact (House Bill 34) was not passed this year by the MD Legislature. Unfortunately, although it passed through the House, the bill was never brought to a vote in the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Bill 204 faced the same fate. Despite our members strong advocacy, which included grassroots efforts, letter writing campaigns, and legislator meetings, the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee strongly felt that the Workgroup on Social Worker Requirements for Licensure (appointed through legislation passed in the 2023 session) should conclude its work and that by passing the Compact, it would be an endorsement of the unequitable ASWB exam. We will work hard during this summer and fall to figure out the best focus for additional information and contacts that may help to get the Compact passed in Maryland in 2025.
*Changes in Record-Keeping Requirements*
House Bill 149: Medical Records-Destruction-Notice and Retrieval (passed) extends the period that a provider must keep medical records. Currently in Maryland, we are required to keep records for 5 years after the last patient contact; this will increase to 7 years which is consistent with current Medicare requirements. We are currently required to keep minors’ records for 3 years after the patient turns 18; the time will be extended to keeping minors’ records for 7 years after the patient turns 18. Providers may destroy records in less time than this if proper notice is provided. Currently, “proper notice” requires public notice in a newspaper of general circulation; new provisions will allow notice to be given by email and letter. This bill goes into effect on October 1, 2024.
Revisions to Utilization Review passed
After almost two years of advocacy and negotiations, Senate Bill 791/House Bill 932: Health Insurance-Utilization Review-Revisions passed the General Assembly. After a successful interim workgroup, Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Kathy Klausmeier and Vice Chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee Bonnie Cullison introduced the bill as “consensus legislation,” with all parties agreeing to support. However, a few weeks into session, CareFirst reneged on its support and raised an issue with the reauthorization provision of the legislation. That provision would prohibit an insurer from issuing a denial upon a request for renewal of a prior authorization when the insurer previously approved the prescription drug that the patient had been treated with without interruption. The prescriber would have also attested that the drug continued to be necessary to effectively treat the patient’s condition. Equally frustrating and more importantly, the MD Dept of Budget and Management sent a letter to the committees stating the legislation would cost the State Employee Health Benefit Plan approximately $91 million. The General Assembly could not ignore this cost given the difficulty the house and senate had agreeing on a budget. The committees wound up dealing with the fiscal note by limiting the reauthorization clause to a prescription drug to treat a patient’s mental health disorder or a prescription drug that is an immune globulin. All other protections remain fully in the bill. See informative memo from our lobbyists elsewhere in this newsletter.
Board of Social Work Examiners
House Bill 755/Senate Bill 106: State Board of Social Work Examiners - Board Membership and Certified Social Worker Licenses (passed) alters the membership of the State Board of Social Work Examiners (BSWE) by authorizing the board to include at least one member who is either a licensed certified social worker or a licensed master social worker who is approved for independent practice. The bill also makes clarifying changes and removes obsolete references to certified social worker licenses. The bill took effect June 1, 2024.
Required by the Maryland Program Evaluation Act, Senate Bill 242: State Board of Social Work Examiners - Sunset Extension (passed) extends the authority of the BSWE to July 1, 2030. The BSWE is also now required to report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations (HGO) Committee the average processing time for issuing initial licenses and renewal licenses; the average length of time required to resolve a complaint; and the rate of compliance for reviewing completed applications for a license and notifying the applicant they were approved to take the appropriate exam within the required amount of time (a total of 75 days).
Enhancing the MD Insurance Administration’s Parity Enforcement Authority
Senate Bill 684/house bill 1074: Health Insurance – Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits – Sunset Repeal and Modification of Reporting Requirements (passed) enacts many of the recommendations from the MD Insurance Administration’s (MIA) report, strengthening parity compliance reporting requirements for carriers and enhancing the MIA’s parity enforcement authority. Specifically, the bill:
- Removes the sunset on carrier reporting requirements, requiring carriers to continue submitting compliance reports every other year.
- Reduces the scope of carrier compliance reports to just those nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTL) identified by MIA as having the biggest impact on access to care, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the agency’s parity analyses.
- NQTLs are processes, strategies, evidentiary standards, or other criteria that limit the scope or duration of benefits for services provided in a health insurance plan, including things like prior authorization, concurrent review, network adequacy, and provider reimbursement.
- Requires carriers to document compliance for all NQTLs annually and submit their reports to the MIA upon request within 15 days. Plan members are also authorized to request NQTL reports from their insurance carrier and receive those reports within 30 days, regardless of whether the member has filed a grievance, appeal, or complaint.
- Places the burden of persuasion on the carriers to demonstrate parity compliance and provides that a failure to submit a complete report shall be considered a parity violation.
- Authorizes MIA to penalize carriers financially for each day a carrier does not submit requested information, charge carriers for expenses incurred by the MIA for additional reviews required beyond the initial review, and should the agency be unable to determine compliance due to an incomplete carrier report, order the carrier to modify or cease the conduct or practice.
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 subsequent newsletters.
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
Mark Smith, GWSCSW & VSCSW Lobbyist
The Virginia General Assembly passed more than 1,000 bills during the recent legislative session, which adjourned on March 9. The Governor had until midnight on April 8 to act on the bills. He signed nearly 800 bills, offered amendments to more than 100 bills and vetoed 153 bills, which exceeds the number of bills vetoed by previous governors over their four-year terms. In addition, the Governor offered more than 200 amendments to the state budget bill. The General Assembly will convene on April 17 to consider the amendments and vetoes.
Of particular interest to the GWSCSW/VSCSW were the two social work compact bills, Senate Bill 239 (Senator Hashmi) and House Bill 326 (Delegate Glass). Throughout March, the legislative committee coordinated with the patrons and reached out to the Governor’s Office on several occasions to encourage him to sign the bills. The Governor signed SB239 and HB326 before the April 8 deadline making Virginia the sixth state to adopt the compact. Once the compact has been adopted by seven states, the Council of State Governments will begin the process to formalize the application process and administration of the licensing reciprocity with other member compact states.
Of note, the Virginia Board of Social Work cancelled their March 29 meeting due to a lack of a quorum. The next meeting is scheduled for July 12.
Legislation & Advocacy | nATIONAL
Judy Gallant, Chair, MD Legislation and Advocacy Committee | CSWA Deputy Director of Policy and Practice
“[Clinical] Social workers are the Swiss Army Knife of mental health treatment.” -- Kenneth, legislative assistant to US Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland (D)
On April 18, leadership from the Clinical Social Work Association and from Clinical Social Work Societies from different parts of the country descended on the US Congress to speak with Senators and their legislative assistants about our legislative priorities. We discussed how crucial mental health equity is to patients seeking treatment through their health insurance and how Congress needs to hold insurance companies to account when they don’t follow the 2008 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment and Equity Act. We advocated for Congress to pass S3651/HR3432 which will authorize the use of telemental health on a permanent basis, allow video as well as audio only as acceptable procedures for the provision of telemental health, and require equity (parity) in insurance coverage and reimbursement to in-person services. We lobbied for more oversight and limiting profits of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans from their current levels. When commercial insurers spend over $13 million (2023) to lobby Congress, one would hope they would provide the MH/SUD care their patients require without the need to restrict the number of psychotherapy sessions covered, require prior authorization for psychotherapy or significantly limit the number of providers that will be covered by MA plans.
My group was one of half-a-dozen or so that visited various legislators’ offices. We initially met with an aide from Chris Van Hollen’s (D, MD) office and then made our way to Senator Jon Ossof’s (D,GA) office, where a surprise awaited us. In the reception area there was a refrigerator full of Coke products and small bags of pecans for visitors (both are well-known products of Georgia). After enjoying the welcome refreshments, we were ushered into a conference room and were able to discuss our concerns about how Congress can help enact policy that will increase access to mental health treatment and clinical social workers, while also helping inform a young aide about the clinical social work profession. She found commonality between her studies in a PhD program she is attending and in our efforts to advocate for policies beneficial to a wide swath of our population. We are encouraged that she and Senator Van Hollen’s aide will take our messages back to their respective Senators to incentivize their support for our requests.
It was an exciting and fun morning! Although some CSWA members who had not done this before expressed hesitancy about speaking and making our case, what actually happened was that each of us in my group of 5 contributed different things to the conversation. One person raised the issue that people frequently think of social workers as the people that separate children from families, but in actuality clinical social workers are the largest group of mental health providers in the country and work hard in many capacities to keep families together. Another chimed in with all the different roles clinical social workers can play: in primary and secondary schools, continuing care communities, hospitals, day programs, longer care treatment facilities, as well as in private practice. A different colleague expanded on the various kinds of treatment we provide, based on client needs, including individual, couples, and group therapy; addressing organizational needs; all with methods that take into account what would be most helpful in the situation at hand-psychodynamic treatment, Internal Family Systems, CBT, DBT, EMDR, ACT, etc. This was the discussion that provoked the observation that Senator Van Hollen’s aide made, declaring us the “Swiss Army knife of mental health treatment.” By the end of the morning, we all agreed on the importance of our work that day, the connection and impact we felt we had with the staffers we spoke with, the delight we took from working together and getting to know each other, and the impact that being in the halls of Congress had on us.
Judy Gallant, LCSW-C
COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH REPORT
I would like to start by wishing a speedy recovery to Nancy Pines, our loyal and skillful Newsletter Editor. Nancy was in the hospital and is recovering well. She works diligently, along with our Executive Administrator, Donna Dietz to bring you this quarterly newsletter. I deeply appreciate Donna and her assistant, Courtney, for putting together this newsletter in Nancy’s absence.
The Communications Branch overseas our listserv, social media presence, website and newsletter. If you are interested in knowing more about the various aspects of the Branch or volunteering, please reach out to me at: steveszopa@gmail.com
The various components of the Communication Branch are going well. We are seeking volunteer listserv moderators and any other volunteers interested in helping with the other aspects of Society communications.
EDUCATION BRANCH REPORT
Ed Geraty, Education Committee Chair
The Education Branch The Education branch of the GWSCSW has been working hard to develop new virtual continuing education opportunities for members and non-members. Requests for presenters have been sent out on numerous social media platforms requesting mental health professionals to be presenters. Since March of 2024 the following CE events have been presented: Brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Sexual Health Issues, Relational Ethics and Social Work Practice, Clinical Practice with LGBTQ+ Patients: An Intersubjective/Relational Approach, Emerging from Covid-19: Addressing "Social Malnutrition" in Clinical Practice, Implicit Bias Training/Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice (Meets new MD Board of Social Work requirements), How Not To Do Couple Therapy: The Challenges of Working With Couples, Psychotherapy & Meditation A Meet-up: Book Discussion - The Impact of Social Justice Issues on our work as therapists .and How to Develop Happiness Habits to Avoid Burnout. In addition, Donna, our Administrator, has taken many of our workshops and turned them into Category 2 on demand workshops. I ask your participation in being a presenter for the Society. If you have not presented before take a risk. You get paid for the presentation!
Ed Geraty LCSW-C MD , WV, VA , DC, FL, and DE
Email: EdGeratyLCSW-C@proton.me
Mentor Program
What is a mentor?
How can a mentor help me in the early stages of my career?
How do I get one?
Who is eligible?
The Mentor Program is available for GWSCSW members still in school, newly-graduated, and those 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 signing up, 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.com or 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.
OUT AND ABOUT
"A Clinician’s Guide to the Principles of Collaborative Problem Solving in Relationship Enhancement Therapy" published in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, Volume 22, 2023 - Issue 3, Pages 257-280. Published online: 07 Apr 2023. Cite this article https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2023.2197267
Abstract: This article presents a systematic approach to collaborative problem solving from the perspective of Relationship Enhancement (RE) Therapy in order to provide clinicians working out of any relationship therapy model a practical guide for helping couples and families successfully work through challenging relationship issues. An overview of RE Therapy is presented in addition to a detailed description of the six principles of collaborative problem solving and the therapist’s role in guiding a collaborative problem-solving process. The key factor that interferes with collaborative problem solving in couple and family relationships also is addressed. Finally, following the principles of collaborative problem solving described, a case illustration of a challenging life decision with far-reaching implications for a couple is offered that includes an analysis of (a) three hypothetical scenarios with an unfavorable outcome, (b) two hypothetical scenarios with a favorable outcome and (c) the actual real-life decision the couple made. In each case, the analysis includes a detailed application of the relevant principles of collaborative problem solving in order to make as concrete as possible how the application of those principles, or the failure to apply them, would impact the outcome in a positive or negative way.
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:
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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.
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NEWS & VIEWS
Nancy Pines, Editor
News & Views is published four times a year: March, June, September and December.
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