title: The challenges of health care reform for hospital social work in the United States.
abstract: This article examines the potential impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 on the practice of hospital social work in the United States and its implications for social work education and training. It briefly traces the history of hospital social work, outlines some contemporary issues in the health care field, particularly those that create persistent health disparities, summarizes the major provisions of the Act that have implications for social work practice, and discusses how social workers in hospital settings might respond effectively to the changes produced by the legislation.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. mreisch@ssw.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reisch
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012948:Social Work Department, Hospital / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States