The COMPLETE Care Act incentivizes the integration of behavioral health services into primary care through Medicare payment increases and technical assistance for practices.
Nicole Malliotakis
Representative
NY-11
The COMPLETE Care Act aims to improve access to behavioral healthcare by providing financial incentives for integrating these services into primary care settings through Medicare. It increases Medicare payments for specific behavioral health services provided in primary care settings from 2027-2029 and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to offer technical assistance to primary care practices integrating behavioral health services. The bill allocates funding from 2025 through 2029 to support these technical assistance efforts.
Medicare Boosts Mental Health Access: New Bill Offers Cash Incentives for Integrated Primary Care Starting 2027
This part of the COMPLETE Care Act aims to make behavioral healthcare a more standard part of a regular doctor's visit for Medicare patients. It sets up financial incentives for primary care practices that integrate mental and behavioral health services. Specifically, for certain services (like those coded 99484, 99492-4, G2214, G0323), Medicare payments will get a temporary boost: 175% of the normal rate in 2027, 150% in 2028, and 125% in 2029. The goal is to encourage more doctors' offices to offer these services directly.
Bridging the Gap: Mental Health Support at Your Check-Up
The core idea here is convenience and better-integrated care. Instead of needing separate appointments and referrals, which can be a hassle, this bill pushes for mental health support to be available right in the primary care setting. The increased payments from 2027 to 2029 are designed to cover the costs and effort involved for practices to add these services. For a Medicare patient, this could mean discussing anxiety or depression symptoms with their regular doctor and getting connected with coordinated care, potentially involving a behavioral health specialist working closely with the primary care team, more easily than before.
Getting Practices Ready: Help is On the Way
Recognizing that adding these services isn't simple, the bill also mandates practical help. By January 1, 2026, the government must set up contracts to provide technical assistance to primary care practices. Think of it as coaching – helping clinics understand different integration models, like the Collaborative Care Model or Primary Care Behavioral Health model mentioned in the bill, and figure out the logistics. Funding is specifically set aside for this assistance for each year from 2025 through 2029, aiming to smooth the path for doctors wanting to participate.
The Bottom Line: Easier Access, Integrated Care
If this rolls out as planned, the biggest win is for Medicare beneficiaries, who could find it simpler and potentially faster to get behavioral health support within a familiar setting. It encourages treating the whole person – mind and body – together. While the financial incentives are temporary (ending after 2029), the hope is that the three-year boost and the technical support will help embed these integrated practices for the long term. The key will be ensuring the technical assistance is effective and that the increased payments genuinely lead to better, more accessible care, rather than just changes in billing codes.