The funding will go to the Association of Social Work Boards and other organizations to support the development of a multistate licensing system to allow social workers to practice in multiple states, HHS said in a July 16 news release.
Multistate licensures make it easier to hire providers and make telehealth easier to access for patients, according to the release.
Seven states have signed on to an interstate licensing compact, allowing social workers to practice in all states that join the compact. As of April 2024, another 18 states have active compact legislation, according to the National Association of Social Workers.
The funding will also go toward supporting existing interstate compacts for primary care, psychology and podiatry compacts, according to the news release.