Health Practice Tools

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.

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.

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. 

NASW Task Force for Serious Illness: Palliative and End of Life Care is please to announce the attached draft practice standards for public comment, Serious Illness: Palliative and End of Life Care. The draft standards offer guidance to social workers in all settings where palliative and end of life services occur. They offer guidance to social workers and serve as benchmark for services social workers provide. We value your input and encourage you to review the document.

Currently, most of the Medicare waivers that were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic are scheduled to end on March 31, 2025. This includes the geographic and origination site restrictions and the in-person requirements for telehealth services. Unless Congress passes legislation to extend the waivers, clinical social workers and other Medicare providers may be required to adhere to pre-COVID Medicare reimbursement guidelines. This may significantly impact clinical social workers and other providers who have closed their in-person offices and developed telehealth practices.

In late 2024 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). This 1,348-page rule updates policies and payments for clinical social workers (CSWs) and other Medicare providers; these changes, in turn, affect health coverage for beneficiaries. Changes related to payments and other Medicare Part B policies addressed in the PFS take effect on or after January 1, 2025.