Call Your Senator & Assembly Member Today: Urge them to include LCSW's in Assembly Bill 670 (Bronson) and Senate Bill 6212 (Senator Kennedy)

For the last several years, a bill to mandate insurance providers reimburse for mental health services provided by individuals licensed under Article 163 of the Education Law - Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Creative Arts Therapists and Licensed Psychoanalysts has been introduced into both houses. While this notion in and of itself is not offensive, there lies a huge discrepancy and as such, we, along with Psychiatrists and Psychologists have opposed the measure.

Currently, the only providers insurance is REQUIRED to reimburse for mental health services are a Psychiatrist (MD), Psychologist (PhD) and an LCSWR (as you are aware requires a Masters degree, two exams and six years in total of highly prescribed, supervised experience in the provision of diagnosis and psychotherapy). Conversely, Article 163 licensees’ post graduate training requires only roughly 40 weeks(depending on which 163 profession) and passing an exam. In addition, only half their post graduate work is required to be face to face contact. Requiring insurance to reimburse such providers WITHOUT INCLUSION OF LCSW’s who have a masters degree, two exams and three years of supervised experience (all face to face contact) in diagnosis and psychotherapy is nonsensical.

Despite this glaring inequity, the bill is on the move. We have offered amendments to include LCSW’s, though they have apparently been ignored. There are only three weeks left of this legislative seesion and this battle will require teamwork from now until June 19th. It will require constant internal legislative work and a loud constituent outcry!

We have an easy three step process of engagement:

1). If you don’t know who your Senate or Assembly Member is, log onto: https://www.elections.ny.gov/district-map/district-map.html

Simply fill in your address and click on Senate and Assembly to reveal your members.

2). Take ten minutes out of your day to CALL YOUR SENATE AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER using the script provided below. The Senate Switchboard # is 518-455-2800. The Assembly Switchboard is 518-455-4100

3). When you are done...let your organization know you’ve made your call (INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS) and share this alert with as many Clinical Social Workers and those working toward licensure as an LCSW and ask them to do the same!