Behavioral Health Practice Tools

Behavioral health may consist of mental health, substance use disorders, life changes that can impact day-to-day living, and physical symptoms related to stress. The treatment for behavioral health care is not defined by one approach and requires a holistic approach that addresses the whole person by providing individualistic care to help support overall wellbeing.

NASW Task Force for Suicide Prevention is pleased to announce the attached draft practice standards for public comment, NASW Standards of Care for Suicide Prevention.  The draft standards of care offer guidance to social workers and serve as benchmarks for services social workers provide.  We value your input and encourage you to review the standards by clicking HERE.

Please use the comment section to provide your feedback no later than March 31. We kindly request that you include your professional background with your comments.  Thank you in advance for your comments.

In the first six months of 2025 there was lots to grasp related to policy and politics. In March, Medicaid was one of the many issues which raised concerns around Congress’ recommendation to reduce the budget for Medicaid by at least $880 billion over the next 10 years. This recommendation left many people with questions and worries to grapple with about the impact this would have on their health and access to care.

On October 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for calendar year (CY) 2026). This rule updates policies and payments for clinical social workers (CSWs) and other Medicare providers. It also affects health coverage for beneficiaries.

The impact of substance use on communities continues to exist. As social workers continue to raise awareness for well-known drugs, new drugs are being formulated making it exceedingly difficult to stand in front of the current substance use crisis that saturates communities at alarming rates. Tusi, also referred to as “Pink Cocaine,” has become increasingly popular. What precisely is Tusi, and what effects is it having on communities? The purpose of this practice tool is to raise awareness about a more recent substance use trend and to educate social workers on how we can help.

NASW appreciates the opportunity to submit comments on CMS–1832–P, Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on the revisions of Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2026 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program.