New Open-Access Guide: Billing Medicare Part B for Social Workers
At CHaSCI, we believe that social care should be accessible, sustainable, and fully integrated into healthcare. That’s why we’re excited to share a new open-access resource from the Coalition for Social Work and Health (CSWH)!
Billing Medicare Part B for Social Workers: An Open-Access Guide
This guide was developed by an ad-hoc group of Coalition for Social Work and Health members to help social workers in outpatient, primary care, and community-based settings understand and utilize Medicare Part B billing opportunities. It offers:
A historical and policy overview of Medicare coverage for social work services
Billing opportunities for clinical social workers, including psychotherapy, crisis services, and HBAI
Practical guidance on coverage criteria, coding standards, and provider enrollment
Insights into coverage nuances such as “incident to” billing and SNF exclusions
A comprehensive appendix of 62 relevant CPT/HCPCS codes
We encourage users to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes, and only so long as attribution is given to the Coalition for Social Work and Health as the creating body.
Suggested citation:
Coalition for Social Work and Health (2025, October). Billing Medicare Part B for Social Workers: An Open-Access Guide. Accessible at www.socialworkandhealth.org/billing-resources-1/medicare-part-b-billing-guide.
Download the guide: Guide+to+billing+Medicare+Part+B+for+SWs_Oct+2025.pdf
Check out other billing resources: https://www.socialworkandhealth.org/billing-resources
Share your feedback: Survey link here or email us at chasci@rush.edu. We intend to update this guide and complementary resources over time, so your feedback will be heard and considered as we iterate on this guide over time!
Webinar Spotlight: RUSH Social Work Grand Rounds
To complement the guide, the September 2025 RUSH Social Work Grand Rounds featured a webinar titled “Navigating Medicare Part B: Billing Essentials for Social Workers in Integrated Care.” Presenters Bonnie Ewald, MA and Akane Kumagai, LCSW shared insights into:
The evolution of Medicare billing for social work services
Service models and billing pathways for clinical social workers
Real-world examples of braided billing in integrated care settings
Advocacy efforts to expand social work’s role in Medicare reimbursement
This webinar helped lay the groundwork for the guide and highlighted the importance of ongoing education and collaboration across the field.
You can view the recording and presentation slides, or check out other Social Work Grand Rounds that we’ve presented here.