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SB 252

SOCIAL WORK TELEHEALTH SERVICES

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Natalie Figueroa

New Mexico law now permits licensed social workers to deliver clinical telehealth services, expanding mental health access in underserved rural areas while modernizing service delivery options.

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Bill Summary · SB 252

Legislative bill overview

SB 252 expands telehealth service delivery in New Mexico by authorizing licensed social workers to provide clinical services remotely, matching permissions already available to other licensed mental health professionals. The bill removes geographic and technological barriers that previously limited social workers' ability to serve clients through virtual platforms.

Why is this important

This change directly affects mental health service accessibility in rural New Mexico communities where in-person providers are scarce. It also impacts the social work profession's competitive positioning within the telehealth market and allows existing social work practices to modernize their service delivery models post-pandemic.

Potential points of contention

  • Licensure and liability questions: Whether current social work licensing adequately addresses the unique risks of remote practice (client safety assessment, emergency response, confidentiality in home settings)
  • Professional scope creep concerns: Whether this represents appropriate parity with psychologists and counselors or expands social workers' clinical authority beyond traditional boundaries
  • Technology access equity: Risk that rural clients lacking broadband or digital literacy may still be underserved despite the legal authorization to offer telehealth

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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