US SB1797

Excludes clinical social worker services from the skilled nursing facility prospective payment system, allowing separate Medicare Part B billing for these services provided to nursing home residents

Expands the definition of clinical social worker services under Medicare to include health and behavior assessment and intervention services (HCPCS codes 96156, 96158–96161, 96164–96168, and 96170–96171)

Removes the restriction that previously excluded clinical social worker services furnished to skilled nursing facility inpatients from Medicare coverage

Amendments apply to items and services furnished on or after January 1, 2026

Introduced May 15, 2025 by Senators Barrasso (R-WY) and Coons (D-DE) with bipartisan sponsorship