CSWF HR 655 INFORMATION PACKET

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CSWF HR 655 INFORMATION PACKET

We have gathered together in this section of our website all pertinent materials regarding HR 655 - The Medicare Social Work Equity Act of 1999. This packet can be used for your immediate active participation in our nationwide effort to let Congress know that "Our Bill," the Medicare Social Work Equity Act of 1999 is an important bill to us and the Medicare beneficiaries and that thousands of us want its passage. The CSWF has worked very hard in putting this bill together and now we need you to join with us and do your part in helping to achieve our goal.

In this packet you will find a sample letter in support of H.B. 655 and the soon-to-be introduced companion Senate bill. The restriction of coverage of CSWs since January 1 has serious significance for reimbursement of CSWs across the board. Failure to get the exclusion we need may result not only in the disruption of services to our elderly clients but also in other restrictions in CSW coverage, including outpatient treatment. This is why we are asking you to take the time to send this letter to all your national legislators so that we can overturn this unfair and detrimental situation.

As undoubtedly you know and our experience with Congress has proven, it takes large number of constituent letters to get a legislator's attention. Your involvement in this effort is crucial. Every single one of your letters is important in coming up with the thousands of letters that we need for this project. If we do not stand up for ourselves we have no reason to complain about the way CSWs are treated.

You can find your legislator's addresses by using the Washington Post government guides. Do not hesitate to ask your own State Society if you need help with getting the addresses of your legislators. Please take action today.

Golnar A. Simpson, DSW, BCD- President
Denny McGihon, Ph.D., BCD- Government Affairs National Co-Chair
Laura W. Groshong, MSW, BCD- Government Affairs States CoChair

You can access this information by clicking on the appropriate links:

Overview of HR 655, prepared by our National Advocate Betsey Haywood.
The full text of HR 655.
Joint letter from CSWF President Golnar Simpson DSW, BCD and NASW President Josephine Allen, Ph.D., ACSW supporting HR 655.
Press release from Congressman Stark's office.
Sample letter to your Congressman in web format or downloadable Microsoft Word document (be sure to select Anonymous if the system asks you how you want to log-on).

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