Social Worker Bill Amended to Require Physician Referral

A bill that would allow California employers to include licensed clinical social workers in their medical provider networks was amended to add language that would require a physician referral before social workers could evaluate or treat injured workers. Senate Bill 1002 would allow licensed clinical social workers to be part of an MPN and would add their services to the list of services employers must provide to injured workers. Social workers would be allowed to treat behavioral and mental health issues but would not be allowed to determine disability. Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Can...