NASW-IL Ethics Committee Statement on Changes to Medicaid Eligibility
NASW-Illinois Chapter Ethics Committee (NASW-IL EC)
The NASW-Illinois Chapter Ethics Committee (NASW-IL EC) recognizes that recent changes to Medicaid eligibility and renewal requirements may place individuals and families at increased risk of losing healthcare coverage, disrupting continuity of care, and encountering additional administrative barriers to essential services. These circumstances present significant ethical challenges for social workers whose professional responsibilities include promoting client well-being, advancing social justice, respecting the dignity and worth of every person, and working to ensure equitable access to needed resources.
Social workers have an important role at every level of practice—
At the micro level, practitioners can help clients understand eligibility changes, navigate redeterminations and exemptions, respond to notices, pursue appeals when appropriate, and connect with alternative healthcare and community resources.
At the mezzo level, social workers and organizations can develop coordinated procedures to identify clients at risk of coverage loss, educate staff and communities, strengthen partnerships with healthcare providers, legal advocates, and community organizations, and document patterns of barriers to care.
At the macro level, social workers can use practice-based evidence to educate policymakers and the public, participate in regulatory and legislative processes, collaborate with professional and community coalitions, and advocate for policies and systems that protect continuity of care and meaningful access to healthcare.
During periods of significant policy change, ethical social work practice requires both supporting individuals navigating the system and examining the systemic conditions that affect their ability to obtain care.
The NASW-Illinois Chapter Ethics Committee (NASW-IL EC) promotes the quality and effectiveness of social work practice through providing understanding of our code of ethics in ethical dilemmas raised by the board, committee, and persons in the community.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with over 120,000 members. The NASW-Illinois Chapter is one of the association's largest chapters representing over 20.000 licensed Illinois social workers and school social workers, with over 5,000 active members. NASW strives to advance social work careers, grow social work businesses, and protect the profession. Learn more at https://www.naswil.org/.
