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.