Urgent action on a bill that includes a provision postponing the scheduled payment rate cuts to Medicare Part B providers, known as the SGR formula, has been delayed due to opposition to the high cost of the item. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers the program, announced today that it will delay payment of claims to all Medicare Part B providers, including clinical social workers, effective with claims for services occurring June 1 and after.

Advocacy groups for Medicare beneficiaries and Part B providers, including NASW, have lobbied the House and Senate to avert a 21 percent cut in Medicare payment rates slated for June 1, 2010. Unfortunately, the provision contained in H.R. 4213 ran up against congressional plans for their Memorial Day recess. Before leaving today, House leaders are holding a vote on the bill, also known as the “extenders package,” but the Senate has already recessed and action on the bill cannot be completed until Congress returns on June 7. By then current SGR payment rates will have already expired. Furthermore, a final compromise package has not been reached and opposition from GOP members and many fiscally conservative Democrats remains strong. The controversy has prevented congressional leaders from assembling the majorities necessary for passage. 

To avoid disruption of services to beneficiaries and payment of claims to Medicare Part B practitioners, CMS today instructed its Medicare contractors to hold claims containing services for the first 10 business days of June.  The payment hold will affect Part B claims with dates of service June 1, 2010, and later.  CMS expects the hold will have a minimum impact on provider cash flow because clean electronic claims are not paid any sooner than 14 calendar days (29 for paper claims) after the date of receipt. Congress has previously delayed scheduled rate cuts in January, March and April of this year, (see NASW background here) 

The underlying extenders bill is a target of political confrontation. H.R. 4213 is intended to address a wide variety of economic needs beyond Medicare payments, including unemployment insurance extension, extended COBRA benefits for the unemployed, Medicaid fiscal relief for the States and other high profile tax items. A revenue source to pay for the delay of the SGR formula cut is just one disputed item in the bill. Disagreements over increasing the deficit and the tax and spending provisions have each generated controversy in the legislation. The Senate is expected to quickly consider its own version of H.R. 4213 when it returns on June 7^th.

When NASW works on issues involving women and girls, you may be tempted to think of it in a domestic context; equal pay for equal work and reproductive choice are two common examples.  However, we must bear in mind the international aspects of our work in this area as well.

The White House recently rolled out their National Security Strategy, and it contains important priorities for the rights of women and girls.  On page 46, the Administration notes that “countries are more peaceful and prosperous when women are accorded full and equal rights and opportunity.”  Ironically, NASW has urged the United States to heed this advice and eliminate the pay gap between the genders (women make roughly 20% less than men in the U.S.).  In addition to this abstract language, the Administration also discusses specific issues such as human trafficking, education, employment, and micro-financing to aid women around the globe.

NASW’s advocacy in this area may start here at home, but the influence of our work extends abroad.  We continue to press the United States to show leadership in this realm not just domestically, but internationally as well.

To learn more about NASW’s work on international issues, visit http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/intl/default.asp   More information on U.S. foreign assistance can be found under the Issue Areas heading.

Twin measures passed the full House and the Senate Armed Services Committee on repealing the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy this week.  While this does not mean the policy has been eliminated, these two votes represented the biggest hurdles that stood in the way of repeal.

Please note that a compromise was struck in order to secure sufficient votes: the President, the defense secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are authorized to implement repeal only when they are satisfied that the military’s readiness, recruiting, retention and morale would not be adversely impacted.  As a result, NASW will continue lobbying on this issue until repeal has fully and completely occurred.

Thanks to those who responded to our action alerts on this issue.

You can find more information about LGBT issues on our web site at http://www.socialworkers.org/diversity/new/glbt.asp.

NASW, in partnership with the National Alliance of Pupil Serving Organizations (NAPSO) coalition, held a briefing for Senate staff to educate them about the role of specialized instructional support personnel in promoting  student success as Congress gears up to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

A dance therapist, physical therapist, school nurse, and a speech and language pathologist were among the panelists from a variety of disciplines that work to improve the lives of students.  A common theme among the panelists was a perceived workforce shortage, high caseloads, and administrative burdens. Of particular note, Fran Lewandoski, a social worker serving three schools in Fairfax County, stated that the current ratio for school social workers to students is 1:2500, significantly higher than the generally accepted industry ratio of 1:400.

This briefing is one of NAPSO’s many activities, in addition to numerous Hill visits and public comments to educate Congressional members about the role of specialized instructional support personnel in schools.  For more information about NASW’s advocacy to reauthorize ESEA, go to http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/school/default.asp

NASW has launched a new webpage on school social work advocacy that includes the Association’s education policy statements, timely advocacy alerts and updates, and our public comments and testimony. There, you can read about how Congress has, for many years, designated the first week of social work month as School Social Work Week.

NASW is partnering with the College for Access and Success and the U.S. PIRG to urge Congress to ensure that the Restoring American Financial Stability Act (S. 3217) gives the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) full authority over all private student loans. The bill has been criticized for not providing CFPB enough teeth to enforce authority over existing private student lenders, some who have lent to for-profit colleges that are attended disproportionately by low-income and minority students. To view the coalition’s letter to the Senate click here.

Private student loans are considered to be one of the riskiest ways to pay for college, yet a significant number of students have private student loans as well as, or instead of, safer federal student loans.Private student loans typically have uncapped, variable rates that lack the fixed rates, consumer protections and flexible repayment options of federal student loans and are extremely difficult to discharge in bankruptcy.

NASW continues to advocate for public policies that make higher education more affordable for social worker students and professionals who are repaying their student debt obligations. You can view additional resources about federal and state loan forgiveness programs by going to www.socialworkers.org/loanforgivenss and for information about our school social work advocacy click here.

Political Climate

With the health care debate now behind us, Capitol Hill and the Obama Administration have moved on to other things.  Issues of great significance include a pending Supreme Court nomination, fluctuating news on employment, and several Congressional primary races that will give shape to the November general election.  At this point in the year, many Members of Congress are focused on both a wide range of policy issues as well as their reelection prospects.

While Democrats are expected to suffer losses this year, experts widely disagree on the number (House seat estimates have ranged from 25 all the way to 60).  That said, it’s important to remember one thing about any election in which the minority party is trying to overwhelm the majority party: only in the summer and fall are the challengers truly tested, in both fundraising and campaigning.  Those Republican candidates trying to defeat entrenched Democrats will have to maintain a significant fundraising pace and avoid gaffes on the campaign trail.  Any error in either category could cost the GOP potential seats.

These remarks are not meant to be partisan in nature because the Democrats were in a similar position in 2006 as well as 2008.  In each of those years some Democratic challengers were unable to defeat Republican incumbents due to either lackluster fundraising, a disappointing campaign, or both.  At the same time, the Democrats won a significant number of seats in the House and the Senate, eventually taking over the majority.  The GOP is likely to repeat that pattern this year, enjoying a sizeable number of wins, but not necessarily as many as their most optimistic supporters would like.

Remembering Dr. Dorothy I. Height

NASW and the social work community were devastated by the loss of Dr. Dorothy I. Height on April 20, 2010. One of the world’s most important social workers, Dr. Height was a civil rights legend who spent a lifetime advocating for the rights of women and people of color. Dr. Height worked on five continents for four major national organizations during her lifetime. Dr. Height was the only female team member in the United Civil Rights Leadership which included Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,  Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins and John Lewis. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1997, the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004, and was inducted into the Democracy Hall of Fame International. NASW was honored to award Dr. Height with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The most comprehensive piece of federal legislation ever introduced to address social work workforce challenges was named after Dr. Height and fellow social worker Whitney Young. NASW Executive Director Dr. Elizabeth Clark penned a tribute to Dr. Height and discussed her support of the legislation bearing her name. Honor the legacy of Dr. Height today by contacting your Representative and Senators in support of this critical legislation.

NASW Joins Young Invincibles In Support of Early Dependent Coverage

NASW joined 65 state and national groups on a letter asking insurance companies to start dependent coverage early.  The letter was generated by Young Invincibles, a national youth advocacy group focused on health reform.  (more…)