The Coalition for Social Work and Health is pleased to announce the release of a new commentary, Identifying barriers to social work integration: Palliative care billing as an illustrative example. This powerful piece examines why social workers remain under-integrated in healthcare despite growing recognition of their role in delivering whole-person, patient-centered care. Using palliative care billing as an illustrative example, the authors identify practical and policy barriers that limit the sustainability and expansion of social work services in medical settings.
The commentary highlights six key barriers to social work integration: productivity expectations, equity concerns related to patient cost-sharing, referral processes, documentation and training requirements, lack of administrative support, and team relationship dynamics. While recent Medicare policy changes have expanded billing opportunities for clinical social workers, the report argues that reimbursement alone is not enough. Healthcare organizations must also invest in workflows, technology, infrastructure, and team-based practices that allow social workers to contribute at the top of their expertise.
- Read the commentary: Identifying barriers to social work integration: Palliative care billing as an illustrative example
- Suggested citation: Hirsch, J., Jones, L., McFadden, A., DePiano, S., Parks-McGill, L., Matarese, K., & Kumagai, A. (2026). Identifying barriers to social work integration: Palliative care billing as an illustrative example. Coalition for Social Work and Health. https://socialworkandhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/Identifying-Barriers-to-Social-Work-Integration-Sep2026.pdf
As the administrative home of the Coalition for Social Work and Health, the Center for Health and Social Care Integration (CHaSCI) supports this work as part of its broader mission to advance integrated care models that address the social, behavioral, and community factors that shape health. The commentary’s recommendations align closely with CHaSCI’s commitment to strengthening primary care, improving care coordination, and ensuring healthcare systems are equipped to meet the needs of the whole person.