Under Medicare statutory language, CSWs are restricted from billing any services outside of the direct care they offer as mental health providers – meaning patients are unable to access the full potential of this workforce to improve patient outcomes and reduce medical spending. CSWs cannot independently bill for Health and Behavior Assessment and Intervention (HBAI), Advance Care Planning (ACP), and related care coordination codes even though these services already exist within their scope of practice.

The bipartisan Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act (H.R. 4638) amends Section 1861(hh)(2) of the Social Security Act to allow CSWs to bill for any services within their existing state scope of practice, resulting in improved patient care, lower costs, and enhanced medical outcomes.

Introduced on July 14, 2023, by Reps. Danny Davis (IL-D-07) and Jennifer Kiggans (VA-R-02), the Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act (H.R. 4638) was endorsed by 24 organizations upon introduction.

Take action now and ask your U.S. Representative to sign on as a cosponsor of the Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act (H.R. 4638).