Bill Aims to Improve Access to Clinical Social Work Services

WASHINGTON—Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act (S 1797), a bipartisan bill that would make mental health services provided by clinical social workers more available to Medicare beneficiaries.

The Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act would increase access to mental health services for residents of skilled nursing facilities and provide access to the complete set of clinical services that help Medicare beneficiaries cope with medical conditions.

“The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) thanks Senators John Barrasso and Chris Coons for introducing the bipartisan Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act,” said NASW CEO Anthony Estreet. “Passage of this legislation is critical to the health and well-being of Medicare beneficiaries, for our nation and the social work profession. It will help Medicare beneficiaries get access to desperately needed, high-quality mental health services that clinical social workers are authorized to perform under state law. It will also remove a significant barrier to mental health care provided by independent clinical social workers to older adults and people with disabilities in skilled nursing facilities.”

NASW said it is glad to see this legislation introduced in May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month.

“As a doctor, I know how vital it is for seniors to have access to mental health services,” said Barrasso. “In particular, for those living in rural communities, finding a mental health provider is challenging. This is why I am proud to support bipartisan solutions that help more patients get the care they need.”

“On behalf of the NASW Wyoming chapter, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Sen. Barrasso for his leadership on the bipartisan Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act,” said Nathan Stahley, executive director of the NASW Wyoming Chapter. “Modernizing outdated Medicare regulations is essential to expanding access to mental health services for individuals in Wyoming and across the country. This vital legislation cuts through unnecessary red tape, elevates the role of clinical social workers and ensures that older adults and people with disabilities can receive the timely, evidence-based care they need and deserve.”

More than 300,000 social workers are employed in the fields of health care, mental health care and substance use disorders. In fact, social workers provide more than half of mental health services in the United States.

“Increasing access to clinical social workers improves seniors’ mental health and gives them hope no matter where they live,” Coons said. “Unfortunately, outdated Medicare rules prevent too many older Americans from receiving support from social workers in skilled nursing facilities. The bipartisan Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act fixes these rules and expands Medicare coverage to allow social workers to provide the best care to seniors when they need it most.”