Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act

The Integrating Social Workers Across Health Care Settings Act would broaden Medicare’s definition of “clinical social worker services” under title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Specifically, it revises Section 1861(hh)(2) to (1) include services and supplies furnished as an incident to such services, and (2) remove the restriction that these services must be “for the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.” As a result, a wider range of social work services delivered in health care settings—beyond traditional mental health treatment—could be considered eligible clinical social worker services for Medicare reimbursement. The amendments would apply to services furnished on or after December 1, 2025. The bill’s intent is to better integrate social workers across health care settings and potentially support care coordination and social determinants of health within Medicare-covered services.