What has NASW done to impact legislation that affects social workers and their clients?
NASW looks out for the interests of social workers and their clients in the State House, both with the Administration and the Legislature. The Association has played a key lobbying role on such pieces of legislation as the mental health parity bill that as of January 2001 will provide equal insurance coverage for biologically based mental illness with physical health; the Social Work Confidentiality Bill, the Hospital Privileges Bill, the Maternity Leave Bill, as well as the annual state budget. On a national level, NASW successfully lobbied on such issues as gaining reimbursement for clinical social workers through Medicare Part B Outpatient Mental Health Benefits, and permanently increasing the Title XX Social Services Block Grant.
