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From April 2002 NASW NEWS Wisconsin Chapter members apply a "full-court press." The Wisconsin legislature in January passed a bill that provides for licensure of clinical social workers and a social work practice act. The bill, which also provides for licensure of professional counselors and marriage and family therapists, passed the state Assembly by an 85-12 vote on Nov. 8 and the Senate by a 31-2 vote on Jan. 29. Marc Herstand, executive director of the NASW Wisconsin Chapter, said the governor is expected to sign the legislation, although he has until May to make a decision. Passage of the legislation followed what Herstand called a year-long "full-court press" by Wisconsin Chapter members. Chapter office personnel made lobbying calls on almost all members of the legislature and made hundreds of telephone calls to NASW members who were constituents of key members of legislative committees, asking them to contact their legislators on behalf of the bill. Especially persuasive to the legislature were NASW's arguments that the bill would expand mental health services, especially in rural areas, and make it easier for social workers and other mental health professionals to relocate to Wisconsin. Since 1992, Wisconsin had a law that certified social workers, professional counselors and marriage and family therapists. While the law allowed for independent practice, it made independent billing to insurance companies difficult. Although Wisconsin social workers have been able to diagnose and treat mental illness independently for years, because of a state rule, services to clients in the many state-regulated outpatient mental health clinics required supervision by a psychiatrist or psychologist. Herstand said the new licensing bill should reinforce NASW's argument that there is a need to eliminate the rule requiring supervision by other professionals. The bill moves social workers from certification and title protection to licensure and a practice act, he said. NASW developed data during its lobbying effort for the bill showing that 38 percent of the state's 72 counties lacked a resident psychiatrist and 17 percent had only one, and that 22 percent of counties had no resident psychologist and 13 percent had but one. Allowing social workers to directly bill insurance companies would allow greater access to mental health services by underserved populations in underserved regions, NASW argued. A provision in the bill to mandate that insurance companies pay social workers and other professionals directly was dropped after opposition from two business groups and an association representing health maintenance organizations. But Herstand said he believes licensure status will increase the number of insurance companies that pay social workers directly. "I think the bill will lead to elimination of unnecessary supervision, and over time, I think we will move toward true independent status," he said. Wisconsin has 5.3 million people. To serve them, there are approximately 3,800 clinical social workers, 2,200 professional counselors, 1,200 psychologists, 700 psychiatrists and 600 marriage and family therapists. The NASW Wisconsin Chapter has about 2,500 members. Back to NASW NEWS Contents
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