Healthcare is inherently complex, involving multiple touchpoints and professionals. That complexity demands coordination to ensure a holistic approach to care, which is why today’s healthcare leaders and care providers increasingly recognize that the mind and body are not separate entities—they are deeply intertwined. While this recognition marks an important cultural and clinical shift, there is still more to be done to fully integrate behavioral and physical health into a connected and seamless care experience.
Making the Case for Integration Beyond Access
A growing body of evidence tells us that behavioral health interventions directly support physical health. Mental health treatments such as psychiatric medications, therapy – including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – and stress management techniques are not just psychologically beneficial, they have tangible effects on physical conditions. Lowering stress can reduce blood pressure; CBT can help manage chronic pain; and treating depression, particularly in patients with chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, can significantly improve recovery and long-term outcomes. Given that people with serious mental illnesses are 53% more likely to have a cardiovascular disease than those without them – and 85% more likely to die from that disease – this places mental health treatment as central to both physical and mental well-being.
And there is increased recognition of the value of integration. Recent research from AHIP shows that integrating behavioral health into other care settings – such as primary care – using the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is increasing across Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid markets. For example, claims data in the Commercial market showed a significant increase from 2018-2023, and payments for CoCM rose an average of 18 percent over that same period.
Yet despite these results, integrated adoption remains relatively low and our healthcare systems remain siloed. Too often, behavioral health is seen as an add-on rather than an integral part of health management. We believe integration must go beyond improving access to care—it must also focus on delivering high-quality, connected, and person-centered services.
Collaboration as the Catalyst for Change
Our work together has emphasized the importance of shared quality metrics—not only measuring whether patients are receiving care, but also evaluating continuity, satisfaction, and outcomes. Metrics such as timely follow-up visits and patient experience scores give us insights into whether we’re delivering the quality care people need and deserve.
Integration also means breaking down barriers between systems: between care delivery and pharmacy services, between mental health and substance use treatment, and between behavioral health specialists and primary care providers. Additionally, understanding and incorporating health-related social needs as factors may facilitate or enable recovery. In isolation, each system may function well, but the patient experience becomes fragmented and – at times – redundant. When systems work in concert, patients are more likely to receive comprehensive, continuous care that supports both their physical and emotional health.
Moving Toward a Unified Vision of Care
By pulling together clinical data, streamlining communication, and ensuring that care teams operate with a shared understanding of a patient’s history and needs, we reduce the risk of gaps and errors—and create a more seamless, supportive experience for patients.
This kind of care coordination isn’t just a logistical upgrade—it’s a philosophical shift. It’s about prevention and early screening just as much as it is about treatment. And when mental health check-ups are more seamlessly included with regular physical care appointments – as well as more specialized care such as maternity and oncology – we put the whole person at the center of inclusive, integrated care.
We invite care providers, policymakers, healthcare leaders, and community organizations to actively embrace integrated behavioral and physical health care as a standard practice. By moving beyond access and into enhancing integration and collaboration, we can bridge behavioral and physical health for healthier communities and better individual outcomes. Let’s move forward decisively, not just envisioning whole health, but implementing it—together. Our patients’ health and the sustainability of our healthcare system depend on this unified commitment.
Hossam Mahmoud, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and Regional Chief Medical Officer at Carelon Health, part of Elevance Health.
Nikole Benders-Hadi, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and Chief Medical Officer at Talkspace.
