UPDATE: 12-22-2020 conversation with Iowa Department of Public Health staff regarding social workers receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is deferring to each individual County Health Department to determine who is in priority category 1A for vaccinations.

The federal Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP) recommended to and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) adopted guidance that health care workers be in priority group 1A.Under Iowa Code social workers are health care workers, but the priority list wasn’t created by the state of Iowa -- it was created by a federal committee (the ACIP), and then adopted by another federal entity (the CDC).  And the ACIP did not define health care provider.

Each county has a different number of vaccines available and likely a different level of demanded within that county.So if they have vaccines available, the County Health Department may be willing to provide vaccines to social workers in private practice, if they believe that the social workers fall within the 1A priority group. The Iowa Department of Public Health has sent lists of licensed social workers (and other licensees) to the County Health Departments. Of course, this will not include any non-licensed BSWs that may be working at your organization.(As a reminder, licensing of BSWs is optional in the state of Iowa.)

We have heard that some social workers working in Federal Qualified Health Centers and Community Mental Health Centers have been told that they are scheduled to receive the vaccine.

So my best advice is to call the County Public Health Department in the county where your address for licensure is. If you are an employer, you will want to call the County Public Health Department where you have facilities.

Here is a list of Local Public Health Agencies and their contact information:

https://idph.iowa.gov/lphs/local-public-health-agencies

Please let us know what you hear from your County Health Department/Local Public Health Agency, so we can pass that on to others.

Other helpful links:

Here’s a link to the IDPH Version 2.0 of the “COVID -19 Vaccination Strategy- Draft”

https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/covid19/vaccine/V%202%20IOWA%20COVID-19%20VACCINATION%20STRATEGY%2012_4_20_FINAL.pdf

Here is a link to the IDPH webpage on COVID-19 Resources for Underserved Populations

https://idph.iowa.gov/Health-Equity/COVID-19-Resources-for-Underserved-Populations

12-9-2020 New Emergency Disaster Proclamation from the Governor with a bit of new Guidance.

Governor Reynolds issued a new Proclamation of Emergency Disaster on

Wednesday, 12-9-2020

The governor’s current proclamation runs through 1-8-2020.

Telehealth portion of the proclamation remains the same

Section 70 – Reimbursement of telehealth services still at 100% of an in-person visit for policies regulated by the Iowa Insurance Division. Audio-only visits are still covered.

Keep in mind

• Reimbursement rate is NOT the same as BENEFITS.Businesses are encouraged to “remove cost sharing or other financial barriers to the use of telehealth in their health insurance plans.”
• As before, the Governor’s proclamation only applies to the insurance policies that are regulated by the Iowa Insurance Division.This does NOT include
  • self-insured plans (regulated by ERISA)
  • Medicare (regulated by CMS at the US Department of Health and Human Services)
  • Medicaid (regulated by Iowa Medicaid Enterprise)
  • Federal employee plans (Office of Personnel Management)
  • CHAMPUS

Heads up on advocacy needs!

As the last General Assembly came to a close, the rumor mill indicated that the Telehealth segment of the proclamation would go through 1-31-2021.The legislature will have to act VERY quickly to bridge that gap (session begins on 1-11-2021).Be in touch with your legislators NOW to let them know that you would like the telehealth components of the Governor’s proclamation made permanent.

What happens at the legislature is likely to be different this year – we NEED YOUR GRASSROOTS advocacy!

Mandatory Reporter Training

Section Sixty-Nine – The requirement to attend mandatory reporter training within six months of initial hire employment has been suspended.However, cases of child or dependent adult abuse must still be reported to the proper authorities.

To see the Governor’s full proclamation, go to

https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Public%20Health%20Proclamation%20-%202020.12.09.pdf

Licensure renewal

The Iowa Board of Social Work has updated their guidance.

The deadline for licensure renewal has been extended until 2 months after the governor’s Proclamation of Emergency Disaster has expired.  However, folks CAN renew now if they would like. As of now, CEUs may be completed up until 6-30-2021 for the 2019-2020 licensure period.

CEUs earned between 1-1-2021 & 6-30-2021

Social Work CEUs earned between 1-1-2021 & 6-30-2021 may be applied to

• The 1-1-2019 to 12-31-2020 licensure period (if needed)

OR

• The 1-1-2021 to 12-31-2023 licensure period

But NOT both

Out of State Social Workers

“For the duration of the Proclamation, individuals who are licensed as social workers in another state, whose license is in good standing, may provide services to Iowans through electronic means without obtaining a license from the Board.”

Keep in mind, Governor Reynolds has NO JURISDICTION over what licenses other states accept (looking at you Missouri).If you have clients in other states, you need to check with that state’s licensing body to see if, as a social worker licensed in Iowa, you are allowed to provide services in that state by electronic means.You can also check the Association of Social Work Boards website (but it may not be up-to-date):

https://www.aswb.org/covid-19

Link to guidance from the Iowa Board of Social Work

https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/90/2020_11_10%20-%20Iowa%20Board%20of%20Social%20Work%20Guidance%20%281%29.pdf