Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologinnen und Psychologen e.V. (BDP)
Catastrophic devaluation
BDP:
Catastrophic devaluation of psychotherapeutic services by 4.5%
Yesterday, a crucial decision was made regarding psychotherapeutic care in Germany: The evaluation committee yielded to pressure from the Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV-SV) and decided to reduce the value of outpatient psychotherapeutic services by 4.5% from April 1, 2026.
Reimbursement for services requiring approval, psychotherapeutic consultations and acute treatments will be reduced – despite rising costs in practice and everyday life.
A decision with catastrophic consequences for psychotherapy practices, patients, and the psychotherapeutic care of the population. And this at a time of increasing demand and under already strained conditions.
Many psychotherapists are already working at their limit, providing highly qualified services under increasingly difficult conditions. At the same time, waiting times for a therapy appointment are far too long, often several weeks. Therefore, from the perspective of the VPP within the BDP, this decision sends the wrong signal regarding health policy.
The justification for the decision that psychotherapists have been earning above the minimum wage for years ignores this reality. Professional associations and physicians' associations affiliated with statutory health insurance funds have resolutely opposed the cuts sought by the GKV-SV (Federal Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds).
We need fair framework conditions for high-quality psychotherapeutic care. As an association, we are currently examining possible legal steps and will coordinate with other associations.
A small glimmer of hope is the planned fundamental review of the system for calculating psychotherapy reimbursement. We will continue working to develop constructive solutions.
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