By Rena Malai, News staff The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final set of regulations that address several key areas under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, which was passed in 2009, some existing HIPAA requirements were amended as the HITECH Act was implemented in phases. The... 

By Paul R. Pace, News staff Several staff members from NASW’s national office, along with NASW members and social work students from the University of Alabama School of Social Work and George Mason University, rallied outside the U.S. Supreme Court in February to support a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. Staff from the NASW national office along with NASW members and social work students attended a rally at... 

Students from the Touro College Graduate School of Social Work, and Professor Jennifer Zelnick (pictured, front row), went to Albany, N.Y., recently to lobby legislators on the New York state “Dream Act” – legislation that would extend public and private funding for higher education to undocumented New York City high school students who were brought to the United States as children. The Touro social work students... 

By Paul R. Pace, News staff NASW, as a member of the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths, celebrated the recent passage of the Protect Our Kids Act (H.R. 6655/S. 3705) in the 112th Congress. President Obama signed the bill in January. The legislation will create a bipartisan, two-year commission to recommend a comprehensive national strategy to reduce and prevent child abuse and child neglect fatalities. Petit NASW... 

By Rena Malai, News staff The NASW Practice Perspectives series offers three new publications to educate members about social work developments that will enhance their professional practices. In addition, NASW has compiled a consumer fact sheet on health care reform, explaining important benefits of the Affordable Care Act for individuals and families. The newest Practice Perspectives — “Essential Health Benefits... 

By Rena Malai, News staff NASW staff members took part in a Capitol Hill rally in June to advocate for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (S.1925), as the House’s version of the bill contains language that leaves out the LGBT population, Native Americans and undocumented immigrants. People hold signs supporting passage of the Violence Against Women Act during a rally on Capitol Hill. As a member of... 

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Just in time for Social Security’s 77th anniversary, the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) released an animated, four-minute video that explains the basics about Social Security, including its purpose, who pays for it, who gets it, and what it means to seniors, working families, and children now and in the future.  “This video is a valuable tool to share with friends, neighbors, co-workers... 

 NASW supports the Farley-Kluger Initiative to amend the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).  As it currently stands, FMLA requires that employers provide eligible employees with up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave each year for the birth, adoption, or foster care of a child, for the care of an immediate family member with a serious health condition, for a serious health condition that makes the employee unable... 

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an event at the White House to see President Obama make a statement about student loan debt.  My invitation to the White House occurred because I reached out to the organization, Campus Progress, and volunteered to work at their Student Debt Day.  By volunteering, I was given the opportunity, along with other student interns, to go to Capitol Hill and advocate on behalf of a... 

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is expected to come up for reauthorization in the Senate next week.  (We previously wrote about this bill back in January.)  The protections the reauthorized bill would offer for all women, regardless of their circumstances, are crucial.  VAWA establishes a comprehensive network of cost-effective standards that keeps women safe, holds perpetrators accountable, and saves money...