Call for Workshop Proposals:
We are accepting proposals for the annual conference. All aspects of social work practice will be considered. Skills building practice focused workshops are encouraged. For more information and submission forms go to this link.
Deadline is
December 4th.
Accepted presenters may attend the conference for free (except for cost of lunch) and will receive
5 CECs
for an original presentation.
Practice Updates
Medicare Updates: N
ational NASW has issued a new practice perspective, "
Preparing for Medicare Newest Quality Program for Reporting Measures: MACRA
"
MACRA is CMS' new Quality Payment Program which is replacing PQRS. Beginning in 2019, clinical social workers who are Medicare providers will have three options to participate in MACRA: low volume threshold, virtual groups, and individual or group reporting. In 2018, clinical social workers may participate in MACRA to practice reporting measures, but will not receive credit for doing so.
Another notice from National NASW is the "
2018 PQRS Negative Payment Adjustment
". Clinical social workers in private practice who are Medicare providers may receive a letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services if they did not report PQRS 2016 measures appropriately. The letter informs clinical social workers of a two percent penalty in Medicare reimbursement beginning January 1, 2018. NASW encourages its members to file an informal review if they believe their feedback report reveals the negative payment adjustment may have been applied in error.
An informal review must be filed no later than December 1, 2017
. The practice alert is available at the following link.
Advocacy Alerts
Medicare Savings Program Alert:
Please see our alert on Medicare Savings Program that was sent on 11-17-17. The state budget cuts are eliminating 68,000 low income Medicare recipients from assistance paying for Part B Medicare, co-insurance and copays. Members are encouraged to contact your state legislators and urge them to rescind the cuts to the Medicare Savings Program. To view the alert go to our Legislative Action Alerts at
http://naswct.org/advocacy/legislative-action-alerts/
If you would like to send a letter to the editor of your local community paper on this topic please email Steve Karp at
skarp.naswct@socialworkers.org
for a sample letter to the editor (this is an excellent way to inform the public).
Oppose Senate Tax Reform Bill:
NASW opposes the Senate tax reform bill that will benefit the wealthiest individuals and corporations but do little for most Americans. The bill includes eliminating the Affordable Care Act coverage mandate and tax deductions that will impact CT residents particularly hard. Call or email Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, thank them for opposing the bill and encourage them to do whatever they can to stop the bill's passage.
Resource
Emerging Adults Action Group! A New Committee of the Keep the Promise (KTP) Coalition.
Keep the Promise Coalition
is starting a peer-run and emerging adults driven (ages 18 to 29) committee focused on advocacy efforts for mental health and addiction services. Students, individuals with direct lived experience, and the general emerging adult population are welcome to join. To sign up or get more information, please contact Gretchen Marino at her email address -
gretchenmarino@my.ccsu.edu
Wecounsel:
NASW CT has recently partnered with Telehealth Software leader and behavioral client referral source
Wecounsel.
This partnership will allow you to get a Wecounsel telehealth software subscription at 25% OFF. Even if you aren't ready to sign up for a free trial of the software, you can still list yourself in the
Wecounsel Directory
for absolutely FREE.
This is what Wecounsel will do for you:
- Market your practice online for FREE
- Build your digital marketing presence with our SEO engine
- 100% HIPAA compliant place for you to communicate with your clients: Secure Email, Instant Chat, and Video Conferencing
- Light Practice Management solution for providers who don't bill insurance
Sign up for your free trial by visiting http://marketing.wecounsel.com/naswct/. Reach out to the Wecounsel Success team at success@wecounsel.com if you have any questions.
Allied Partner Event
CCAG Annual Auction & Awards Program:
The CT Citizens Action Group holds its annual auction and awards event on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at the West Hartford Town Hall. This is an opportunity to bid on holiday gifts and getaways. Suggested cost is $50 per person. For more information including RSVP.
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Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Members!
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