Maryland bill would allow social workers as rehab specialists in comp

Maryland lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow licensed clinical social workers to provide rehabilitation services to injured workers under workers compensation law.

H.B. 1404, introduced Friday, would amend state law that only permits certified nurses, rehabilitation counselors and vocational evaluators to serve as rehabilitation practitioners.

If passed the change would go into effect Oct. 1.

The measure was the second introduced last week that addresses licensed clinical social workers in workers comp. H.B. 1210, introduced Thursday, would authorize such medical practitioners to provide “evaluation services for workers compensation claims related to permanent impairments involving a behavioral or mental disorder,” according to a bill summary.