Rosters of the Register of Clinical Social Workers and the American Psychological and Psychiatric Associations were used to contrast samples of private practitioners regarding changes managed behavioral health care organizations have made in practitioners' use of various treatment modalities. The social work respondents report they are more often certified and reimbursed for individual therapy under managed care than they were reimbursed for individual therapy prior to joining managed care panels; however, they are less often certified and reimbursed for group and family therapy under managed care than they were reimbursed for rendering group and family therapy prior to joining managed care panels. The responding psychologists report they are less often certified and reimbursed for all treatment modalities except individual therapy. The responding psychiatrists report they are less often certified and reimbursed for all treatment modalities except medication management. These outcomes have profound implications for a social work practice, training, education and social workers' salaries.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the attendees will have a clear understanding of how managed behavioral health care has impacted social workers' use of treatment modalities (defined as individual, family and group psychotherapy) in comparison to psychologists and psychiatrists. The attendees will recognize that social workers are more likely to be certified for each treatment modality than are psychologists and psychiatrists. The attendees will have a clear understanding of the recent research concerning the certification of psychotherapy by managed behavioral health care organizations. The attendees will have a clear understanding of the recent research on the certification of treatment modalities under managed behavioral health care. The attendees will be able to list three reasons why social workers are certified to render treatment modalities for longer periods of time and at greater frequency than psychologists and psychiatrists
Keywords: Managed Care, Providers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.