HB56 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Section 34-30-3 to clarify licensing requirements for independent clinical social workers, including holding a master's or doctorate degree from an accredited school of social work and completing required postgraduate experience.

• Establishes that licensed independent clinical social workers may diagnose and develop treatment plans, but prohibits diagnosis, treatment, or advice for conditions outside the boundaries of social work practice.

• Explicitly prohibits licensed clinical social workers from administering psychological tests, admitting patients to hospitals, treating patients in hospital settings without medical supervision, prescribing drugs, authorizing laboratory or radiological procedures, or using electroconvulsive therapy.

• Adds new Section 34-30-34 prohibiting licensed social workers from practicing medicine or describing any test, report, or procedure as psychological or as a psychological evaluation.

• Prohibits health benefit plans and insurance entities from being required to provide coverage or reimbursement for services described in the amended section; becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and approval.