Sometimes a small change can make a big difference. That is the strategy behind the Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act, a common-sense bipartisan bill that was introduced in the current 119^th Congress as HR 4185. This bill is only 100 words long (shorter than this newsletter article!), yet it has the power to remove a significant barrier to evidence-based whole-person care.

Congress recognized clinical social workers as independent Medicare providers in 1989, defining their services as “diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.” Now nearly 40 years later, this limited definition precludes Medicare reimbursement for many services that clinical social workers are trained and licensed to provide outside the narrow scope of mental illness. Removing this barrier would improve access to care coordination and support for people with complex medical, social, and mental health needs, including people facing cancer.

The Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act would modernize Medicare policy by removing the limited-scope definition of clinical social work services and allowing for clinical social workers to use Medicare’s “incident to” billing framework—an established mechanism that supports team-based care. Congress has already established this precedent for clinical psychologists; this act would extend the same reimbursement option for clinical social workers. Enabling reimbursement opens doors to healthcare access, as more social work services can be provided.

Oncology social workers know that psychosocial assessment, counseling, and care coordination all support high-quality person-centered care, including for the most vulnerable. AOSW is an organizational member of the Coalition for Social Work and Health, a national convening body working to strengthen healthcare systems and improve the nation’s health through social work. AOSW participates in the Coalition’s policy and advocacy workgroup and supports the Coalition’s effort to pass the Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act.

Representing the AOSW Advocacy Committee, I recently participated in one of the Coalition’s virtual Hill visits and met with Congressional staff for a representative from my state. I shared what I do as an oncology social worker and some examples of how my work supports quality care and shared decision-making. We asked the representative to co-sponsor the bill, and I now extend this call to all of Congress. As our healthcare system shifts toward whole-person care, it is time to modernize outdated legislation that creates barriers to Medicare beneficiaries accessing the full range of services clinical social workers already provide. Our policies must evolve alongside our approach to care.

With the 119^th Congress ending soon, we are working to build bipartisan support for the bill’s reintroduction in the 120^th Congress. This bill will remain a priority for AOSW, and the Advocacy Committee will be following it closely. Together, we can remove this outdated language about our scope and unlock the power of health social work!

Here are a few things you can do to support this work:

1. Ask your congressional representative to co-sponsor the Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act. This common-sense bipartisan bill can appeal to representatives from both political parties. This work will continue on in the 120th Congress in 2027. Use the Coalition’s advocacy toolkit to tell your story: Take Action – Coalition for Social Work and Health. Consider signing up to join one of the virtual Hill visits!
2. Visit the Coalition for Social Work and Health or connect with the Coalition on LinkedIn to learn more about how AOSW and other members are amplifying the value of health social work.
3. Watch for updates on SWON from the AOSW Advocacy Committee or reach out to our committee chair and AOSW Advocacy Director, Karen Costello. Consider joining our committee to participate in advocacy efforts like this one!