Fax service for an LCSW in private practice: a BAA from $4.99

For one licensed clinical social worker sending and receiving 200 pages a month, the lowest price with a signed BAA among the providers in the table is Fax Pigeon Basic at $4.99 a month billed annually ($5.99 month to month), against $10.70 at SRFax, $24.99 at iFax and $33.33 at eFax Business, and a group of five pays the same.

What is the best fax service for an LCSW in private practice?

The best fax service for an LCSW in private practice, by price with a signed BAA among the providers in the table, is Fax Pigeon: Basic costs $4.99 a month billed annually for 200 pages and Plus costs $16.99 for 1,000 pages. Every plan covers unlimited colleagues and a BAA signed at sign-up, readable at faxpigeon.com/baa before paying, and every paid plan has the practice's own number.

The other four tie the BAA to a plan or a request. SRFax provides its BAA through a Request a BAA link under its Healthcare plans and publishes no BAA price. iFax offers a free BAA to Plus and Pro subscribers, eFax prints the BAA on its Business plan card, and Fax.Plus includes one on Enterprise only.

The table shows the cheapest plan with a BAA for one person, as a price a month, at 200 and 1,000 pages sent and received.

What do clinical social workers fax, and to whom?

Clinical social workers fax treatment summaries to a client's physician, consultation notices for Medicare clients, records that payers request, copies that clients ask for and releases that clients sign. HIPAA's definition of treatment in 45 CFR 164.501 includes consultation between providers and the referral of a patient from one provider to another.

The table lists what a clinical social worker usually faxes, where it goes and the rule behind it.

Psychotherapy notes also sit outside a client's right of access under 164.524(a)(1) (what HIPAA protects in psychotherapy notes).

What do NASW's technology standards say about faxing?

NASW's Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice say a social worker who shares confidential client information electronically shall take reasonable steps to protect it, under Standard 3.07, and the standard's interpretation names the fax machine. NASW wrote the standards with ASWB, CSWE and CSWA. Among the ways to manage risk, the interpretation lists making sure the social worker "has the correct e-mail address, fax machine or telephone number" (NASW technology standards).

The table sets out Standard 3.07's checks before a record leaves by fax, as the interpretation states them.

Standard 3.03 asks that client information be gathered, managed and stored securely, 3.08 that client access to electronic records weigh confidentiality and the client's best interests, and 2.08 that social workers filing claims electronically take reasonable steps so business associates use proper encryption. A cover sheet carries the confidentiality notice (HIPAA fax cover sheet requirements), and a misdial raises its own question (whether a fax sent to the wrong number is a HIPAA breach).

What does the NASW Code of Ethics ask before records leave?

The NASW Code of Ethics permits disclosure with valid consent from the client or a person legally authorized to consent (1.07(b)) and asks a social worker, when feasible, to tell the client about the disclosure and its possible consequences first (1.07(d)). Standard 1.07(c) asks for the least information necessary for the purpose, while HIPAA's minimum necessary rule does not apply to a disclosure to a provider for treatment (45 CFR 164.502(b)(2)(i)). Under 1.07(h), a third-party payer should get confidential information only with the client's authorization.

Standard 1.07(m) names encryption, firewalls and passwords as safeguards for electronic communications, and 1.07(s) asks that records be transferred or disposed of in a way that protects confidentiality. Clients should get reasonable access, with the request and any reason for withholding documented (1.08(a)), and others named in the records should stay protected (1.08(c)). Under HIPAA, a covered entity acts on an access request within 30 days, with one extension of no more than 30 days (45 CFR 164.524).

What does Medicare ask of clinical social workers?

Medicare asks a clinical social worker for a master's or doctor's degree in social work, at least 2 years of supervised clinical social work after the degree and a state license or certification (42 CFR 410.73). Medicare requires assignment and pays 75% of the Physician Fee Schedule amount for clinical psychologists. Services to hospital or SNF inpatients fall outside the benefit, and Medicare does not cover services incident to the social worker's own services.

Under 42 CFR 410.73(c), a clinical social worker follows the consultation rules written for clinical psychologists, which 42 CFR 410.71(e) sets out:

• Unless the client's attending or primary care physician made the referral, tell the client that consulting that physician is desirable.
• With the client's assent, attempt to consult the physician within a reasonable time.
• If direct attempts fail, notify the physician that the social worker is furnishing services.
• Record the date the client consented or declined, the date of consultation, or the date and manner of the notice.

Neither the social worker nor the physician may bill Medicare or the client for that consultation. CMS's HCPCS G0323 covers at least 20 minutes a month of clinical psychologist or clinical social worker time on behavioral health care management, including coordinating with practitioners who prescribe medications (CMS MLN909432). Clinical social workers can also bill interprofessional consultation codes such as G0546 and G0550 once the patient's consent is documented in the record.

What does HIPAA fax cost one LCSW, and a group of five at 1,000 pages?

One LCSW pays $59.88 a year for HIPAA fax on Fax Pigeon Basic billed annually at 200 pages a month, against $128.40 at SRFax, $299.88 at iFax and $399.96 at eFax Business, and a group of five at 1,000 pages pays $16.99 a month billed annually on Fax Pigeon Plus. eFax Business includes 5 users and charges $10 a month for each user after that. iFax includes one user license, and two or more team licenses take Plus off its selector, so a team is priced on Pro. Fax Pigeon sells no team plan, since unlimited people come with every plan.

The table shows the cheapest plan with a BAA for 5 people, as a price a month, at 200 and 1,000 pages sent and received.

For five people at 1,000 pages, a year costs $203.88 on Fax Pigeon Plus billed annually, against $354.00 at SRFax, $649.92 at eFax Business and $1,119.48 at iFax. An extra page costs 4¢ on Plus and 7¢ on eFax Business, while iFax prints no overage rate and adds credits automatically once usage reaches 95% of the plan limit.

Can a social work practice share one fax number and inbox?

A social work practice shares one Fax Pigeon number, one inbox and one page allowance across all its social workers, and no plan charges for an added colleague. The inbox has roles and assignment, faxes go out from the browser or from email, and every delivered fax gets delivery proof.

Groups that mix professions have a Medicare parallel: when MFTs and mental health counselors join a group already billing for LCSW services, the group keeps its PTAN (CMS enrollment FAQ).

Which social workers should switch, and to what?

LCSWs on iFax Plus, eFax Business or Fax.Plus Enterprise for the BAA should switch to Fax Pigeon Basic at $4.99 a month billed annually, and social work groups sending 1,000 pages should switch to Plus at $16.99. An LCSW on SRFax Healthcare Lite pays $68.52 a year more at 200 pages than on Fax Pigeon Basic, both billed annually.

Switching keeps the number. Porting is free on every paid plan, against $25 to port a local number in at SRFax and $40 per number at eFax, and most transfers finish in 5 to 15 business days while the number keeps working with the current provider.

* Prices last verified October 19, 2026, at each provider's own site. Fax Pigeon is not affiliated with SRFax, eFax, iFax or Fax.Plus.