# The COMPLETE Care Act: What It Does

This bill creates financial incentives for doctors to integrate mental health and behavioral health services into regular primary care offices. Right now, many people see their regular doctor for physical health issues and have to go to a completely separate place to see a therapist or counselor for mental health problems. This bill tries to change that by paying doctors more money if they bring these services together in one location.

Starting in 2027, Medicare will pay doctors significantly more for specific behavioral health services if they're delivered as part of primary care. The payment boost is substantial: doctors get 75% extra payment in 2027, then 50% extra in 2028, and 25% extra in 2029. This applies to specific types of mental health services that are already recognized by Medicare, like collaborative care models where a therapist works alongside your primary care doctor, or behavioral health consultations that happen right in your doctor's office. The idea is that these higher payments will encourage more primary care practices to hire mental health professionals or partner with them.

Beyond the payment incentives, the bill also requires the government to provide free technical help to doctor's offices that want to set up these integrated services. The government will contract with organizations to teach practices how to actually implement these models, since many doctors may not know how to structure their offices this way. The bill also sets aside federal funding for this technical assistance from 2025 through 2029.

For patients, this could mean easier access to mental health care—you might be able to address depression, anxiety, or other behavioral health issues during your regular doctor's visit instead of having to schedule separate appointments elsewhere. However, the incentives only last through 2029, so it's unclear whether these integrated services will stick around long-term after the extra payments end.