Clinical Social Work Practice Update
Mirean Coleman, LICSW, CT
Senior Policy Associate
April 2008
Since 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been developing quality measures to improve the quality of services performed by Medicare providers. Three quality measures were developed and approved for use by clinical social workers in 2008; and four additional quality measures have been proposed for use by clinical social workers beginning January 1, 2009. Quality Insights of Pennsylvania, a Medicare contractor, has developed the measures in consultation with NASW and an expert work group of clinical social workers in private practice. The proposed four measures for 2009 are:
- Complicated Grief Assessment in a Co-Existing Disorder
- Initial Assessment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Assessment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in a Co-Existing Disorder
- Assessment of Suicide Risk in a Co-Existing Disorder
NASW is seeking clinical social workers who are Medicare providers in solo or group practice and agencies who are Medicare providers and hire clinical social workers to participate in Beta Testing of the four measures to ensure usability for clinical social workers.
In order to participate, clinical social workers or agencies must have a minimum practice of 30 Medicare patients. Beta Testing will occur over a three week period and participants will be trained to use the measures in their practice.
Clinical social workers and agencies who would like to participate in Beta Testing should send the following information no later than April 15, 2008 to mcoleman@naswdc.org:
- Provider’s name
- Name of practice or agency
- address of practice
- telephone number
- e-mail address
This is a great opportunity for clinical social workers and agencies to participate in development of quality measures used in the Medicare bonus incentive program and to receive training on how to use quality measures when seeking Medicare reimbursement. Questions about participation in Beta Testing may be sent to mcoleman@naswdc.org.
