“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
—Maya Angelou
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***Please note that if you click on a link and it doesn't take you to the section listed, it's because it's in the later part of the newsletter. In order to access it you'll need to go to the end of the email and select "View entire message."***
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What's Happening in Our Community?
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Good Faith Estimates Analysis by Eric Strom
Eric Strom (he/they), attorney at law and LMHC has shared a helpful analysis on GFEs and what our community should look out for. Given the questions many of us have around this change, this document can help provide some clarity as we make and update our GFE forms. If you'd like more support on GEFs, you can connect with Eric at eric@strom-consulting.com.
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Decolonizing Mental Health: The Healing Power of Community
This article discusses what is liberatory therapy and how it supports conversations on oppression ranging from the therapeutic relationship to the community. The article highlights personal experiences of therapists serving communities of color and noticing what their experiences bring to the therapeutic relationship.
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Messages to the Community
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Update on Governor's Proclamation on waiving CEUs Requirement:
In the previous December On Our Minds, we shared Governor Inslee's proclamation to waive CEU requirement for most mental health professionals, found here. Additional information one of our members has received from a DOH representative highlights that it is unclear how long this waiver will last or if there will be a grace period after the waiver is lifted. Due to these uncertain factors, it may be recommended to continue obtaining CEUs if possible.
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Message from CSWA to the Community 12-20-21
There are a number of issues that are affecting LCSW practices in the waning days of 2021, particularly in the area of Medicare (which we know affects commercial insurance heavily). These issues are: 1) giving patients a “Good Faith Estimate” of what the treatment we provide will cost; 2) elimination of 2022 cuts to Medicare reimbursement; 3) telemental health coverage; and 4) DCEs. Discussion of each of these follows.
Good Faith Estimates
This rule requires us to give a “good faith estimate” (GFE) to a patient of what our services will cost and how long they may last. While this policy is part of most of our informed consent forms, signed by the patient already, it is prudent to review what the GFE is more formally requesting we include in our information to the patient. The main difference about past practices and the GFE is that it applies to private pay patients as well as insured patients and uninsured patients.
For more information and a template of what belongs in a GFE, go to the CSWA website under “Templates” in the Members Only section.
Medicare Cuts Stopped
LCSWs can take a deep breath as Congress has acted to prevent the trio of Medicare payment cuts that were set to take effect at the beginning of 2022—a 3.75% cut due to scheduled changes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (“PFS”), a 2% cut for Medicare sequestration, and a 4% Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act (“PAYGO”). These Act cuts would have slashed Medicare payments by nearly 10% during a tumultuous time for healthcare. Instead, tThe Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act (S. 610) was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 7 and passed the U.S. Senate on December 9, 2021. The bill has been sent to President Biden’s desk for his signature.
The Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act includes:
- A one-year increase in the Medicare PFS of 3%;
- A delay in resuming the 2% Medicare sequester for three months, followed by a reduction to 1% for three months;
- Erasure of the 4% Medicare PAYGO cut; and
- Prevention of additional PAYGO cuts through 2022
This is the second year that a last-minute change stopped a substantial reimbursement cut for LCSWs. CSWA will be encouraging CMS and Congress to stop these attempts to balance the Medicare budget on the backs of clinicians moving forward.
Telemental Health Coverage
As you know, CMS issued a new rule last month to expand telemental health and audio only psychotherapy through 2023. You also know we are still unable to practice across state lines unless we are licensed in the state where the patient resides and/or there is still increased reciprocity in the state where the patient resides. CSWA is still working with Department of Defense and the Council of State Governments to create a “Compact” that will make it much easier to work across state lines; it should be ready to begin implementing in early 2023.
The requirement that LCSWs see patients in person every 6 months has been extended to every 12 months. This is a still a hardship for some patients and LCSWs who have given up a physical office. CSWA will be working to eliminate this requirement.
For more information go to the CSWA website under “Legislative Alerts”.
Medicare Direct Contracting Entity
Over the past decade, over 50 models of delivering health care through Medicare have been explored, with the goals of lowering costs for dual-eligibles; eliminating access to care, based on economic disparities; and, moving away from a fee for service (FFS) payment model. The last goal has an impact on LCSWs in private practice who have used the FFS model for some time.
A new model has been emerging called the Medicare Direct Contracting Entity (MDCE). It is similar to the Accountable Care Organizations that have been in use for the past five years, but is run by commercial for-profit agencies. CMS has started to ‘assign’ beneficiaries who are in traditional Medicare to MDCE plans without consent. There is concern that this could lead to the privatizing of Medicare which would have the same difficulties that commercial insurance for-profit plans have, i.e., the focus on profit leads to diminished health care services.
Surgeon General Report on Youth Mental Health
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, released an advisory statement on December 7 to highlight the urgent need to address the nation’s youth mental health crisis. “Protecting Youth Mental Health” (PDF, 1.01MB) . This excellent document outlines the COVID-19 pandemic’s harm to the mental health of America’s youth and families, as well as the mental health challenges that had accumulated before the pandemic began. CSWA is delighted to see the Surgeon General paying attention to this increasingly difficult situation.
CSWA wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season!
Laura Groshong, LICSW, Director, Policy and Practice
Clinical Social Work Association
lwgroshong@clinicalsocialworkassociation.org
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Members have FREE access to post their availability, contact information, areas of specialization, and insurance preference in the, On Our Minds newsletter. Email your information to WSSCSWComm@gmail.com.
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LET'S CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER
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Professional Development Events
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WSSCSW PROFESSIONAL EVENTS
ARE OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS & THE COMMUNITY
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Employment and Financial Opportunities
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TELETHERAPY: THERAPIST OPENINGS AT JOON CARE
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Teletherapy for Teens & Young Adults
Joon Care is the world’s first teletherapy platform designed specifically for teens and young adults. Founded by Dr. Amy Mezulis, a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher specializing in emotion regulation in adolescence, Joon Care offers a new model for mental health care that integrates the benefits of one-on-one therapy sessions with a mobile app-based experience. Our clinical team uses an evidence-based, skills-focused approach that is personalized for each individual client. We recently published new data on Joon Care’s effectiveness: more than 50% of clients have recovered from anxiety and more than 45% have recovered from depression. You can read more here.
Contract Clinician Job Description
We are seeking trained, compassionate, skilled clinicians with experience in adolescent mental health. We provide the clients, marketing, technology, and billing support. You bring your training and expertise with providing evidence-based treatment for youth and young adults to improve access to quality mental health care.
Benefits of Joining Joon Care:
- Set your schedule and determine the size of your caseload.
- Work from the convenience of your home.
- Joon Care supports your clinical care with all necessary resources for effective therapy: electronic medical record, assessment tools, treatment planning, clinical content, and skills-based practice on a dedicated client mobile app.
- Joon Care takes care of client acquisition and coordination, billing, and support services.
Requirements
- Licensed by a state board to provide mental health counseling services (LMHC; LMFT; LCSW/LICSW; LPC; LPCC; PsyD; PhD; or similar).
- Experience in therapy with adolescents and young adults ages 13-24.
- Training in use of evidence-based practices including cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or dialectical behavioral therapy.
- Professional liability insurance in the amount of at least one million dollars per occurrence or claim and three million dollars in the aggregate annually.
- Reliable internet connection and your own computer for provision of teletherapy.
Compensation
- Hourly rate dependent on licensing and years of experience, with opportunities for growth over time.
Interested to learn more?
Please email jobs@joon.com or directly book time here. We’d love to get to know you!
We are an equal opportunity employer and highly value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
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ALLIANCE FOR CHILD WELFARE EXCELLENCE
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The Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence has an opening for a brand new Knowledge Management Coordinator position (MSW + 2). If you are interested in tracking trends in child welfare policy, supporting quality improvement of training for child welfare workers and caregivers, and have excellent organization and written communication skills, we would love to see you apply.
The hiring range for this position is $68k-$75k annually DOE with competitive benefits.
Apply here: https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/ENG/Candidates/default.cfm?szCategory=jobprofile&szOrderID=198819
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Looking for Volunteers:
Health Equity Continuing Education Listening Sessions
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From: Bell, Ashley (DOH) <Ashley.Bell@doh.wa.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 10:11 AM
Subject: 5229: Health Equity Continuing Education
Good Morning,
The Department of Health (DOH) is reaching out to individuals and communities who have experienced health inequities or racism in the health care system. Advocacy groups and health care professional associations are also invited.
This is an effort to learn how people are harmed due inequities in the health care system. We want to acknowledge its role in the health system. We want to create positive change in the health care system. Information we gather from listening sessions will be used in future rule workshops. Individuals, communities, and health care workers will work together to create rules for health equity continuing education. Health care professionals must complete trainings in health equity as required by Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5229.
DOH recognizes that sharing experiences about this subject may be difficult. We recognize and appreciate the emotional labor that will take place. We will make an intentional effort to create a safe space for participants and staff during this process. Sharing your experience is voluntary and it is up to you how you would like to share. If speaking in a group setting does not work for you, there is an option for written comments. No matter how you choose to take part, please know your willingness to engage in this process is greatly appreciated.
During these sessions, we will ask the following questions:
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What does health equity mean to you?
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What are your experiences with health inequities and how have they affected you?
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How can health care professionals improve so that they are providing fair healthcare?
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Is there anything else DOH needs to take into consideration?
To join us, use the link below. We will be holding listening sessions:
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Tuesday, February 1, 2022, from 5pm to 6pm via Microsoft Teams
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Thursday, February 10, 2022, from 10am to 11am via Microsoft Teams
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Tuesday, February 15, 2022, from 5pm to 6pm via Microsoft Teams
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Thursday, February 24, 2022, from 10am to 11am via Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 564-999-2000,,114577531# United States, Olympia
Phone Conference ID: 114 577 531#
Please write us if you are unable to attend but want to share your experience. Written comments about past and current experiences with health inequities can be submitted via email to healthequityimplementation@doh.wa.gov. Please, do not hesitate to contact us with any questions, concerns, or comments.
Sincerely,
Ashley Bell
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Community Posts, Resources & Groups
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Asian American Psychodynamic Peer Consult Group
Hi All,
Since the beginning of the pandemic, myself and a group of Asian-American colleagues have been hosting a monthly peer consultation group for psychodynamically/psychoanalytically trained Asian-American mental health clinicians.
We are expanding our group to 2x a month starting in January and would love to welcome other Asian-American clinicians looking for support amongst peers.
Please read more about the group below, and contact me directly for more information or if you would like to sign up for our meetings.
Also, feel free to pass this info along to your colleagues!
Best,
Andrew Zarate
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About the Asian American Psychodynamic Peer Consult Group
This group is organized by Andrew Zarate, Men Chun Wong, and Jonathan Blazon Yee. Our group is open to all Asian-American mental health clinicians with psychodynamic/psychoanalytic backgrounds anywhere in the U.S.. We are composed of licensed masters and doctoral level clinicians, including masters level clinicians working towards full licensure hours, and doctoral level clinicians completing their internships and postdocs. At this time, we are not currently accepting individuals who are still completing their graduate degrees.
This is an open group, meaning that there is no commitment to attend all groups. We want to provide clinicians with flexibility in their schedule, as well as to be able to provide openings to other clinicians that would like to attend the group. We just ask that you arrive on time and be able to stay the entire meeting (as much as possible).
Logistics
Our group meets 2x a month by Zoom for 1.5 hours, and has a limit of 12 people per group. Once we reach this limit, everyone else will be put on a waiting list and contacted if there is an opening.
Meeting Days and Times
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First Wednesday of the month, from 6pm PT - 7:30pm PT / 9pm ET - 10:30pm ET.
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Third Thursday of the month (starting January 20th, 2022) , from 4:30pm PT - 6pm PT / 7:30pm ET - 9pm ET.
Structure of the Group
The first ~30 minutes of the group are for introductions and check-ins, followed by ~60 minutes to discuss clinical cases, networking, ask the group for resources, racism, covid19, etc.
For questions, or to join the group please contact Andrew Zarate at andrew@andrewzarate.com
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Office Ad
Bellevue office sublet 2nd floor, 2-3 blocks from downtown area. Beautiful 11’ X 14’ office at Hidden Valley Office Park with large windows, great view of trees/park. Share suite with 1 well-established psychologist. Waiting room, kitchenette with microwave/fridge/sink, copier, filing cabinet space, fiber internet available, generous outside parking with underground parking option, Call Greg Greenberg @ 425-637-7700.
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Compassion CE Training
Dear community,
I am offering an interactive Compassion CE training on January 28th (only 8 slots left!) I would love for you to join and/or share with someone who may benefit. The training is on zoom and will be kept small to foster a deep dive into compassion in clinical practice. This is an experiential training that offers clinicians a respite for self care, along with CE's and skills. A nice post-holiday gift of self-care. Description and link below, I hope to see you there!
Sending compassion your way
Warmly
Ellen
CONTINUING EDUCATION TRAINING
EXPERIENTIAL SELF COMPASSION | INTEGRATE HEAD & HEART
JANUARY 28th | 9 AM - 12:30 PM | ZOOM
3 CE Credits
During this 3 hour workshop you will learn the biochemistry of self-compassion along with evidence based experiential practices to implement into your work. Group size is small so we can allow for a deep dive into self-compassion discussing the barriers and tools to promote this in self and clients. You will build confidence in guiding mindfulness and breath practices tailored specifically to your clients. We will review trauma informed protocols to promote safety and confidence when guiding in-session practices. Research shows that self-compassion frees up energy you can direct towards living a vital life. It leads to healthy connection and is a significant motivator, increasing your courage to take risks and try new things. Discover in this workshop how to bring this to clients and take home new practices for yourself!
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Integrate mind & body through the lens of Self-Compassion | Gain skills in guiding trauma informed experiential practices | Take away several strategies and interventions that promote self-compassion
LEARN MORE/REGISTER
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Apps and Websites to Get Stuff Done
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Pomodor is a free site that uses the Pomodor technique that breaks time down to 25 minute increments. The simple and straightforward interface makes it easy to reduce distractions as you're working on your stuff.
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Epic Win is for people who enjoy RPG experiences and would like to integrate that into their daily life. Your earn XP and develop your character in an epic quest to complete your daily tasks.
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Free Tools: Fillable GFE form & The Happiness Workbook
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*Please note tools are for educational purposes, and not to be sold, to adhere distribution guidelines*
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Fillable GFE Form
This fillable Good Faith Estimate (GFE) Form can be the start to creating your own individualized form.
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The Happiness Workbook
Description: "This workbook is designed to help you enjoy more moments of happiness in your daily life. It will support your mental health and well-being by helping you incorporate new ways of thinking, integrate new practices, and appreciate everyday moments so that you will be better equipped to find happiness and embrace joy."
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Book Recommendation for January: The Gift of Grief
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Description: "The Gift of Grief is for those who are navigating a loss and are wanting to understand grief and how to heal from a variety of losses. The book helps the reader understand grief, death, and dying and other everyday life events that can cause us to grieve. None of us are exempt. Grief is a universal experience, but our healing, our grief journey is unique to each of us. This book helps you understand the grief process and addresses the different myths that can impact your grief journey. This book serves as a guide for those who want to understand the different types of loss, how they impact our grieving, and creating a life post-loss."
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Engaging Podcast: You aren't lazy, you just need to slow down
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This is a 15 minute podcast episode from NPR discussing our perception of laziness based on author, Devon Price's (Ph.D) book, Laziness Does Not Exist.
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Have a Therapy Meme Today
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Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work
PO Box 252 • Everett, WA 98206 • wsscsw.org
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