Overview
- The Extended Valuation Committee, a federal panel of insurers and physician representatives, approved a 4.5% reduction in ambulatory psychotherapy pay effective April 1 after negotiations between the KBV and the GKV-Spitzenverband collapsed.
- KBV says it will sue to overturn the decision, and therapist groups have organized protests and a national petition, including a rally of about 150 people outside the state parliament in Erfurt.
- Statutory insurers defend the move by pointing to about a 52% rise in psychotherapy fees since 2013 and pressure to save money, while professional bodies dispute the data and method and call the cut arbitrary.
- The GKV-Spitzenverband estimates an aggregate reduction of 2.3%, which the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists counters would average closer to a 3.5% loss for practitioners.
- Therapists warn they may treat fewer publicly insured patients or shift to private care, where a 60‑minute session can pay up to €170 versus about €120 under statutory insurance, which could stretch already long waits even further.