Advocacy Priorities
2025 Advocacy Priorities for CSWA *=Major
The Clinical Social Work Association Mission guides our advocacy. Every year the Government Relations Committee evaluates what issues are most important and whether there is a vehicle to pass them in Congress. CSWA also consults with affiliated state societies about issues that are important in their state/jurisdiction.
This year our national advocacy priorities, in order of importance, are:
1. Stop Companies from Stealing LCSW Information – the companies who have started “scraping” the names and information of CSWA members has increased exponentially, making it appear that LCSWs listed work for and/or with the company listing this information. CSWA is working to get any company that does this to get permission from a member before listing them.
2. Advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ Community – CSWA is steadfast in its commitment to affirming and advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community. We work to identify and address mental health disparities, promote equitable access to care, and actively oppose policies and practices that restrict or undermine the well-being, rights, and dignity of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
3. Social Work Compact – CSWA is a permanent ex officio member of the Social Work Commission (with 28 delegates from member states) which will be setting up the Social Work Compact in the next 12-18 months.
4. Improve Parity of ASWB Clinical Test Results – discuss with ASWB the ways to improve test results for BIPOC, older, and ESL, clinical social workers. 2022 data show a huge difference between pass rates of white clinical social workers and these other groups of clinical social workers.
5. Pass Legislation for Permanent Telemental Health, Including Audio Only, Psychotherapy Coverage – In the time of COVID and beyond, it is crucial that psychotherapy through videoconferencing and audio-only means continues to be covered by Medicare and private insurers. CSWA will be supporting the many bills in Congress that will make this a reality.
6. Pass Legislation to Implement Mental Health Parity Enforcement – CSWA hopes the long overdue enforcement of mental health parity through Congressional action will be passed this year. We also support adopting reimbursement based on the procedure code rather than the mental health professional who delivers the services. Additionally, CSWA is concerned about the disparity of access to mental health treatment to minorities in general.
7. Stop the Growth of Medicare Advantage – Advantage programs are misleading the public to believe they are the most affordable Medicare program. Traditional Medicare must remain neutral and cannot advertise. The Advantage programs are profit oriented only and may not offer medical plans that are provide all medically necessary treatment and are affordable. CSWA will work toward the continued life of traditional Medicare and its continued expansion of medical care offerings.
8. Voting Rights – protection of voting rights is a major part of mental health. CSWA has been a strong advocate for District of Columbia statehood and expands that position to prevent the attempts to restrict voting rights in all states.
9. Immigrants – CSWA has worked with the Mental Health Liaison Group to stop the cruel policies separating families that were implemented in the past.
10. Keep Affordable Care Act Intact – the many efforts to repeal ACA are going to harm millions of people who have gained health care as a result of the ACA. Keeping the ACA intact with some minor tweaks to funding, maintaining the essential benefits, allowing beneficiaries the right to choose their own pharmacy and medical provider, and continuing to expand Medicaid are all primary goals of CSWA.
11. Social Determinants of Health – integrate social issues which contribute to mental health and substance use problems into services covered by LCSWs through Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and commercial insurers. The issues include services related to basic needs like food, shelter, transportation, and special services needed for patients with cognition problems, mental health issues, physical handicaps, and financial difficulties.
12. Consider the Value of Single Payer – a discussion is developing about the possibility of creating a nationwide health care system. CSWA is still considering the pros and cons of this option, practically and politically, and will be looking at the feasibility of this goal. We would support attempts to lower the age people can become eligible for Medicare.
13. Privileging of Medication over Psychotherapy – over the past 30 years, psychotropic medication has become the primary treatment for emotional distress, recommended by primary care physicians and insurers. Building bridges with PCPs and making psychotherapy a fundamental part of the way that emotional disorders are treated is a major goal.
Contact: Laura Groshong, LICSW, Director of Policy and Practice, lwgroshong@clinicalsocialworkassociation.org