Mandated benefits for a new provider class: LICSW's

The purpose of this study is to assess the initial impact of Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW's) as a new reimbursable provider class in an insured population with mandated nervous and mental benefits. History of nervous and mental therapy, previous provider type, age, and sex are examined. Data were obtained from Blue Shield of Massachusetts' nervous and mental claim information from 1979 through 1982 for all patients who saw a social worker during the year of LICSW certification. Results show (1) a large majority of the 1982 social worker patients had no billable psychiatric experience for the three years prior to 1982; (2) the longer a patient is in treatment, the less likely is a provider type switch; and (3) psychologists' patients are more likely to switch to a social worker than psychiatrists' patients. A concern remains for this insurer over the increase in the total number of psychiatric services concomitant with a new provider class introduction.