[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 7 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INOUYE:
  S. 52. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
provide improved reimbursement for clinical social worker services 
under the Medicare Program; to the Committee on Finance.


                   Clinical Social Worker Act of 2001

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to correct discrepancies 
in the reimbursement of clinical social workers covered through 
Medicare, Part B. The three proposed changes contained in this 
legislation clarify the current payment process for clinical social 
workers and establish a reimbursement methodology for the profession 
that is similar to other health care professionals reimbursed through 
the Medicare program.
  First, this legislation sets payment for clinical social worker 
services according to a fee schedule established by the Secretary. 
Second, it explicitly states that services and supplies furnished by a 
clinical social worker are a covered Medicare expense, just as these 
services are covered for other mental health professionals in Medicare. 
Third, the bill allows clinical social workers to be reimbursed for 
services provided to a client who is hospitalized.
  Clinical social workers are valued members of our health care 
provider network. They are legally regulated in every state of the 
nation and are recognized as independent providers of mental health 
care throughout the health care system. I believe it is time to correct 
the disparate reimbursement treatment of this profession under 
Medicare.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be 
printed in the Record.

                                 S. 52

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. IMPROVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER 
                   SERVICES UNDER MEDICARE.

       (a) In General.--Section 1833(a)(1)(F)(ii) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395l(a)(1)(F)(ii)) is amended to 
     read as follows: ``(ii) the amount determined by a fee 
     schedule established by the Secretary,''.
       (b) Definition of Clinical Social Worker Services 
     Expanded.--Section 1861(hh)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(2)) is amended by striking ``services 
     performed by a clinical social worker (as defined in 
     paragraph (1))'' and inserting ``such services and such 
     services and supplies furnished as an incident to such 
     services performed by a clinical social worker (as defined in 
     paragraph (1))''.
       (c) Clinical Social Worker Services Not To Be Included in 
     Inpatient Hospital Services.--Section 1861(b)(4) of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(b)(4)) is amended by 
     striking ``and services'' and inserting ``clinical social 
     worker services, and services''.
       (d) Treatment of Services Furnished in Inpatient Setting.--
     Section 1832(a)(2)(B)(iii) of the Social Security Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1395k(a)(2)(B)(iii)) is amended by striking ``and 
     services'' and inserting ``clinical social worker services, 
     and services''.
       (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to payments made for clinical social worker 
     services furnished on or after January 1, 2002.
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