Policy Updates

NASW Provides Input to Inform Forthcoming Mental Health Packages in the U.S. House and Senate

Both the U.S. House and Senate are developing comprehensive mental health legislation, partly because of COVID-19’s resulting spotlight on mental health. NASW has long worked to educate policymakers about the importance of mental health care for individuals, families, and communities. Recently,

• NASW submitted comments to Sens. Bennet (D-CO) and Cornyn (R-TX) in response to their call for comments to Reimagine America’s Mental and Behavioral Health Care Systems.
• NASW submitted comments to the Senate Finance Committee in response to their solicitation led by Sens. Wyden (D-OR) and Crapo (R-ID) for policy proposals to address unmet mental health needs.
• NASW submitted comments to Sens. Murphy (D-CT) and Cassidy (R-LA) in response to their request for input on federal mental health and substance use disorder programs.

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Internapalooza Spring 2022 is a free orientation and welcome event for new and/or prospective congressional interns. Internapalooza will be held virtually on January 13, 14, and 21, 2022 and provides an in-depth introduction to congressional internships and how they can be a rewarding experience and open doors for careers in public policy.

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NASW commends the U.S. House of Representatives for its passage of the historic Build Back Better Act. We urge the Senate now to pass a robust package that will advance social well-being, promote health equity, create an inclusive economy, and help the nation recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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NASW, University of Michigan White House Field Placement Paper Explores Macro Policy Practice and Political Social Work

The White House as a Field Placement: Reflections on the Past and a Future for Policy and Political Practice, released by NASW and the University of Michigan, explores macro policy field placements, political social work, and policy practice roles for social workers.

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Medicare Finalizes Rule for CY 2022, Includes Welcome Telehealth Continuation Provisions

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on November 3 released a Medicare final rule for Calendar Year 2022 that includes welcome provisions on telehealth and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The agency has implemented many of the provisions that NASW requested in its comment letter.

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Make Child Tax Credit Permanent, Says NASW and 800+ Individuals and Organizations

NASW is pleased by the inclusion of the enhanced Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan through 2022 and that full refundability will be made permanent. NASW, along with more than 800 individual social workers, social work scholars, researchers, and allied professional organizations, including NASW chapters, signed a letter in October urging Congress to make the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent and fully refundable.

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NASW is working in partnership with the Legal Action Center’s Medicare Addiction Parity Project to collect stories from people who use Medicare and who have not been able to get the substance use disorder treatment they need. We are asking social workers, colleagues, family, and friends to submit stories that will be used to encourage policymakers to improve treatment and access to substance use disorder and other behavioral health services.

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U.S. Department of Education to Overhaul Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

NASW, active in coalition around strengthening the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and restoring the failed promise of loan forgiveness for public service workers, is pleased to learn that the U.S. Department of Education (DoEd) will overhaul the PSLF program. The changes are substantial and will result in many social workers getting student loans forgiven and/or years of public service counted toward forgiveness.

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ACTION ALERT: Send this prewritten, customizable email now to your Senators and Representative urging co-sponsorship of the Improving Access to Mental Health Act.

The Improving Access to Mental Health Act (S. 870/H.R. 2035) was reintroduced in the 117th Congress by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and John Barrasso (R-WY) and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA-13).

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NASW is among 18 organizations that has endorsed the Collaborate in an Orderly and Cohesive Manner (COCM) Act (H.R. 5218), which will improve access to evidence-based mental health and substance use care by supporting and investing in the implementation of the Collaborative Care Model in primary care offices.

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