California Medical Provider Networks could include licensed clinical social workers who provide certain services that would normally fall within the scope of psychologists and psychiatrists, according to a bill passed by the state Senate.
The Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement voted 5-0 on Monday to approve SB 1002, which would allow licensed clinical social workers with a master’s degree and two years of clinical experience to join networks of medical providers treating injured workers.
They would not be competent to identify disabilities within the workers’ system, but they would be allowed to provide certain mental health services, according to the bill.
California̵
7;s workers’ system is growing to provide more mental health care, and the covid-19 pandemic could exacerbate the situation, according to an analysis of the bill.SB 1002 “can increase the capacity of the worker compensation system to handle this increase by allowing (clinical social workers) to handle care in large volumes such as intake, referrals and early screening within their normal scope,” the analysis said.
The proposal will go to the Senate Appropriations Committee, which must approve it before the entire Senate can vote on the measure.
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