The expansion of integrated behavioral health (IBH) in primary care is crucial to addressing the growing behavioral health crisis in the US. Evidence shows that patients are more likely to receive behavioral health diagnosis and treatment in primary care than in specialty mental health settings. COVID-19 disrupted primary care delivery, necessitating modifications to IBH. Social distancing and stay-at-home orders significantly altered primary care operations, prompting rapid expansion of telehealth services.

This article explores how integrated health care (IHC) teams adapted during COVID-19, focusing on telehealth use and adaptations of IHC components such as warm hand-offs between providers and patients, referral linkages, and communication. It also identifies innovative methods IHC practices used to address patients’ physical, social, and behavioral health needs during the pandemic and where these innovations can be maintained or strengthened post-pandemic.