Monday, November 30, 2009

Death of Secretary of State Elaine Marshall's husband

We at NASW-NC join with all of NC in offerring our sympathy to the Secretary.

The husband of North Carolina's secretary of state has died at age 77 after a battle with cancer. A spokesman for Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said her husband, William Holdford, died early Saturday at his home. Spokesman George Jeter says Holdford was an attorney in Wilson who died while he was surrounded by family. Holdford had battled cancer for more than a year. He was the president of the Narron & Holdford law firm. He is also survived by his two daughters and two grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the Joyner Funeral Home today.(THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 11/28/09).

Friday, November 20, 2009

Upcoming meeting of House Committee on High Speed Internet Access

House Select Committee on High Speed Internet Access in Rural and Urban Areas

November 23, 2009 10am Room 544 of Legisalture.

You can listen in by going to www.ncleg.net and clicking on Audio section.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Miller Coors Drops Alcohol-Energy Drinks

MillerCoors Agrees to Stop Selling Alcoholic Energy Drinks

A settlement announced this morning between MillerCoors and a group of state attorneys general will spell the end of the brewer's foray into marketing alcoholic energy drinks.

READ MORE:

http://members.jointogether.org/ct/VdvLW551rYie/story

2009 Teen Survey Released

Teenagers who drink on a monthly basis are frequently imbibing in order to get drunk, according to the 2009 Teen Survey released today from The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

The study also found that that teens who have seen their parents drunk are much more likely themselves to get drunk, use marijuana or smoke cigarettes, compared to other teens. In addition, many teenagers report that prescription drugs are very easy to obtain for misuse.

READ MORE:

http://members.jointogether.org/ct/Q7vLW551i4KN/survey

Newly Released Voting stats from 2008 for Persons with Disabilities

Information just released from the American Assn. for Persons with Disabilities on the voting by PWD in 2008 elections.

http://www.aapd.com/Communications/2009RecordNumbers.html

NASW-& LOC MH/DD/SAS

NASW-NC is listening/participating in the LOC for MH/DD/SAS today. What do you think? Want to listen? Go to www.ncleg.net/aduio/audio.html and click on the Approprations room 643.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Supervision for licensure in NC

by Jack Register, Director of Advocacy & Legislation

We at NASW-NC get many questions about supervision for those seeking licensure. Even though supervision is a critical part of any social work practice, this posting will focus on supervision for those seeking licensure. NASW-NC will have future posts regarding the larger issues of supervision in practice.

In order to meet the requirements as set by the statute, it is critical to understand the following. In order for someone to supervise a PLCSW for licensure, they must themselves be two (2) years post licenusre and be in good standing with the board.

The period of being a PLCSW is a difficult one for many social workers. The supervisor is the guide through this process. In essence, they are standing in for the licenusre board on a day to day basis. They are responsible for seeing that social work practice meets the definition of clinical practice, that the PLCSW is within the scope of their practice and are serving clients they are clinically prepared to serve. In sum, they are responsible for the practice of a PLCSW. By law, the PLCSW is operating under the licensure of their LCSW supervisor.

The PLCSW and LCSW supervisor meet on a ratio of one hour of supervision to every 30 hours of paid clinical practice. The supervision session is driven and managed by the supervisor. Many times you will be asked to bring case examples, you will be asked to discuss a theoretical technique you are using, you will be asked about ethical conflicts, you will be asked about self care....and so much more. It is imperative that this relationship be one of trust and openness. The LCSW supervisor is responsible for those cases discussed and those that are not.

Another frequent question we are asked at NASW-NC is what if my supervisor is not in my agency? The answer to this is that there is no requirement that a supervisor be in the same agency as the PLCSW they supervise. It is very common for supervisors to be outside the agency.

NASW-NC would strongly recommend a frank and honest dialogue between the PLCSW, the agency administrative supervisor, and the LCSW supervisor. There may need to be a written agreement for how to best serve the PLCSW in supervision. Often. when conflict arise, it is this open dialogue that will allow for the situation to be resolved.

Questions regarding fees for supervision are frequent in our office at NASW-NC. There is no rule of thumb here to go on. In the modern practice environment, there are as many variances in costs of supervision as there supervisors. What we at NASW-NC would recommend to PLCSWs in practice is to look to your agency for some support. Ask if they can subsidize some if not all the cost of supervision. It is common when this happens that the agency create a "give back" clause. This means for every year or "x" amount of dollars spent on supervision the PLCSW would give "y" amount of time back to the agency. This ensures that agencies don't pay for supervision only to lose the clinical social worker upon completion of licensure.

The key to survival, as in all of social work practice is communication. Talk with other PLCSWs about their experiences. Ask questions of your agency. We at NASW-NC have a PLCSW listserv that is a member benefit. Check it out!

Jack is the Director of Advocacy & Legislation for NASW-NC and the Editor of Hull House NC. He is the lobbyist and advocate for the association and represents NASW-NC in statewide advocacy coalitions, to the departments of state government, and is the lobbyist for the legislature. Jack is an LCSW and has practice experience in a wide variety of mental health, medical and addiction settings. He can be reached at the association by email at jack@naswnc.org.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Hull House NC: How do PLCSWs in NC bill for services?

Hull House NC: How do PLCSWs in NC bill for services?

How do PLCSWs in NC bill for services?

by Jack Register, Director of Advocacy & Legislation & Hull House NC Editor

This is a frequent question we get at NASW-NC. I want to spend some time describing the current state of billing for PLCSWs in the state. But before I do I want to preface the comments with this statement.

NASW-NC is reporting this to you. We don't agree with the current state of affairs in NC. We don't support the state's position that PLCSWs are not "fully licensed." We do not support the current practice of PLCSWs being in the QP or Qualified Professional catagory. In our opinion, and according to the statute, a PLCSW is fully licensed as a PLCSW with all the rights and privileges associated with licensure.

In terms of billing, there are currently two (2) mechanisms. The first is called incident to. " Incident to" is a model where you use an MD's Medicaid number in order to bill. The MD must be employed by or in a contractual relationship with the agency the PLCSW works in. The MD is responsible for practice in so far as Medicaid is concerned. However, they DO NOT replace the clinical supervisor (LCSW) as deemed by the licensure board. So, in some cases, it may seem like the PLCSW has two supervisors. Incident to is a medicalized model of billing that allows several allied professionals to see a client and bill under the physician. It requires medical neccessity to be met as well.

The second model of billing is the H code. The H codes are billed through the LME. There is usually a cost, approxiamtely $.15 according to the last Implementation Update. The LME creates a contract with the agency the PLCSW works in and bills Medicaid for these services. As of now, H codes are slated for elimination from Medciaid in July 2010.

Another key issue regarding billing is what payor sources do PLCSWs qualify to use. The answer is there are two (2). Private payment for services and Medicaid. A PLCSW cannot direct enroll, cannot apply for panel membership with any third party payor at this time.


Jack is the Director of Advocacy & Legislation for NASW-NC and the Editor of Hull House NC. He is the lobbyist and advocate for the association and represents NASW-NC in statewide advocacy coalitions, to the departments of state government, and is the lobbyist for the legislature. Jack is an LCSW and has practice experience in a wide variety of mental health, medical and addiction settings. He can be reached at the association by email at jack@naswnc.org.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

NASW-NC & Urban Growth

NASW-NC listening to the Urban Growth and Infrastructure Issues with NC General Assembly: Tell us what you think! Wht is this important to social workers?

New Face of NC Legislature & Social Work Practice

by Jack Register, Director of Advocacy & Legislation NASW-NC & Hull House NC Editor

The NC Legislature has transformed in recent weeks. From the scandals and resignations to the simple decisions of lawmakers to move on in their lives to new adventures. The face of NC politics is changing. I for one am glad to see it and be a part of it.

I believe now is the perfect time for all North Carolinians who care about their state, the citizens of the state, heck, even their own lives to become involved. NC faces the distinction of being one of the best places in the country to do business and yet one that struggles to care for its citizens who are sick, disabled, or poor.

So, what is an advocate to do? Well, getting involved is always a good place to begin. I for one am proud to be a social worker and live in NC. I am proud to be an advocate and member of the lobbying community who is a recognized member of the crowd of folk who wade into the morass of politics and try to make policy change.

What motivates me on a daily basis is the notion that something I do or say today to a member of the legislature, a staffer in state government, or to a colleague will shift their perception of what it means to need care. Polyanna I know, but it is what motivates me and I go with it.

Frequently when I speak to community groups of social workers I will ask them to remember what brought them to the profession. I ask them to remember what the experience was that said to them that they need to become a social worker. For many people it is an experience in their family of origin where they had the help of a social worker, for some it is a calling from their faith to give their lives to service, for some it is a duty based and grounded in a frame of social justice. For me, it is all of the above.

So as we continue to hear about our elected leaders leaving and the face of NC politics changes remember what brought you to social work. Remember why it is you go to work on a daily basis. Ask yourself what can I do or say today that may shift someone's perception. Then do it!

Simple advocacy steps to do everyday:

1. Write to some elected official who represents you. Local, state, or national it doesn't matter.
2. Identify yourself as a social worker and become a resource to them for social work practice issues and concerns.
3. Get involved in the social work community. Find a group, organization, like NASW, and get involved. Our work cannot happen without you!

Jack is the Director of Advocacy & Legislation for NASW-NC and the Editor of Hull House NC. He is the lobbyist and advocate for the association and represents NASW-NC in statewide advocacy coalitions, to the departments of state government, and is the lobbyist for the legislature. Jack is an LCSW and has practice experience in a wide variety of mental health, medical and addiction settings. He can be reached at the association by email at jack@naswnc.org.