Clinical Practice Information Survey Coming

December 2023

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is participating in a national survey, Clinical Practice Information (CPI), to improve reimbursement rates for clinical social workers. The primary goal of the CPI survey is to gather current and accurate data on practice expenses and hours spent providing patient care in a healthcare setting including private practice. Over 170 health care professional associations, including physicians and nonphysician practitioners, will be participating in the survey. The information collected will be shared with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to update their payment information. CMS establishes Medicare payment rates each calendar year for healthcare providers. Most third-party payers use Medicare payment rules and regulations as a guide in determining their reimbursement.

To conduct the survey, NASW and other professional associations have contracted with Mathematica, an independent research company with extensive experience in survey methods as well as healthcare delivery and finance reform. The survey will begin sometime in January 2024 and is expected to continue through June 2024. Clinical social workers will be randomly selected from healthcare claim data to participate in the survey.

NASW strongly encourages clinical social workers who receive a survey to complete it. Although participation is voluntary, it is very important in helping to ensure that CMS receives updated data to improve clinical social work reimbursement. The information you share is confidential and will be reported in aggregate. Questions about the survey process can be emailed to mcoleman.nasw@socialworkers.org