From the Halls of Congress to the Homes of Chicago, Rep. Davis Supports Clinical Social Workers
Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) welcomed social workers, dedicated advocates, and community members of the Chicago area to a press conference Sankofa House on July 24th to celebrate the introduction of his new bill with Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), the Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act, H.R. 4638. The day was marked by a convergence of incredible voices all present to elevate the vital role that social care can play in improving the health of our communities.
With a powerful speaking voice and a profound understanding of his constituents’ struggles, Rep. Davis delivered his resounding endorsement of clinical social work in health care. While clinical social workers can currently only bill Medicare for the direct care they offer as mental health providers, H.R. 4638 would authorize clinical social workers to bill for the surrounding care management services they are eligible to provide under their state law.
“This legislation is a testament to the care that clinical social workers provide our nation, both as providers of care coordination across health care settings and as the largest group of professionally trained mental health providers in the United States,” said Rep. Davis. “I look forward to a future where the compassionate care provided by clinical social workers becomes a cornerstone of our healthcare system.”
“Clinical social workers play a critical role in health care settings: We address social determinants of health by recognizing that an individual’s health and well-being is influenced by factors beyond their primary medical conditions, a foundational concept of social work since its beginning as a field,” stated Robyn Golden, LCSW from the Coalition for Social Work and Health and Associate Vice President of Social Work and Community Health at Rush University.
Social work can be a lifeline for vulnerable patients who are navigating the complexities of health care but without proper reimbursement for the profession, health systems and organizations cannot tap into the full potential of this workforce.
“When we don’t pay social workers well, we’re not honoring their work, and we’re traumatizing them when we don’t pay them what they’re worth. Everybody is a patient, and we all need mental health,” said Carolyn Vessel, CEO and President of I AM ABLE Center for Family Development.
“While we are experts in providing psychotherapy, our unique skill sets help us to address the social determinants of health very effectively as well,” added Richard Buino, LCSW, CMC and Manager of Clinical Care Coordination at CJE Senior Life. “Having the statutory authority to bill for our full range of services would be very important to our profession and the individuals we serve. It would allow us to intervene in all of the ways that we know are effective in helping individuals to thrive and have good mental and physical health.”
Messages from both national organizations and local initiatives were met with applause from attendees who commended the ability of clinical social work to change the fabric of health care.
“We know that social work has a key seat on care teams – bridging gaps across fragmented care and social service systems, and making all the difference between people falling through the cracks or getting the care they need in a way where they feel listened to and supported. I certainly want the latter for myself and my family, yet policy change is needed to ensure everyone in Chicagoland and across the country has access to this kind of wrap-around care,” commented Bonnie Ewald, MA from the Coalition for Social Work & Health and Managing Director of Center for Health and Social Care Integration at Rush University. “The Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act would address systemic barriers in patient treatment to ensure our most marginalized and underserved populations can receive the care they desperately need.”
To learn more about the bill and what you can do to support clinical social workers, visit: www.chasci.org/cswh-action