# Plain Language Summary: CONNECT Care Act

This bill creates a new system to help different types of healthcare providers work together more effectively. Right now, doctors, hospitals, mental health counselors, social workers, and other healthcare professionals often operate in separate systems that don't communicate well with each other. This bill aims to change that by establishing connections and standards that allow these providers to share information and coordinate care for patients.

The main goal is to make it easier for your healthcare team to work as an actual team. For example, if you see your primary care doctor and they refer you to a specialist, that specialist should be able to access relevant information about your care. Similarly, if you're dealing with both physical health issues and mental health challenges, your doctors and counselors could coordinate treatment plans instead of working independently. The bill likely focuses on creating the technical infrastructure and guidelines that make this kind of coordination possible, potentially through shared electronic health records or communication platforms.

This affects anyone who receives healthcare, especially people managing multiple health conditions or seeing different types of providers. It could mean fewer repeated tests, better-coordinated treatment, and less time spent explaining your medical history to different doctors. For healthcare providers, it means investing in new systems and learning to work within new standards, but ultimately it should reduce administrative burden and improve patient outcomes. The bill essentially recognizes that modern healthcare works better when everyone involved in your care can see the full picture and work together toward your health goals.

Connecting Our Medical Providers with Links to Expand Tailored and Effective Care

Cortez Masto, Catherine

Connecting Our Medical Providers with Links to Expand Tailored and Effective Care or the COMPLETE Care Act This bill modifies payments and establishes certain requirements to support integrated behavioral health services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill increases payments for integrated behavioral health services that are provided by physicians under Medicare for 2025-2027, with payments increased by 175% in 2025, 150% in 2026, and 125% in 2027. The bill also requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish reporting requirements for physicians and practitioners who participate in certain alternative payment models under Medicare in order to measure the extent to which behavioral health services are integrated into primary care under these models. The bill provides funds for FY2024-FY2027 for the CMS to contract with entities to provide technical assistance to primary care practices that want to adopt models for behavioral health integration.