Overview
- The Extended Evaluation Committee, which sets statutory payment rates, approved a 4.5% cut to ambulatory psychotherapy that takes effect Wednesday, April 1.
- Statutory insurers say a 14.5% rise in practice structure subsidies will offset part of the cut, leaving a net reduction of about 2.3% for 2026; these subsidies help cover staff and admin costs.
- Following Saturday protests in several cities, the national doctors' association (KBV) said it will sue in the Berlin‑Brandenburg social court to stop the reduction.
- Patients already wait about 26 weeks on average for therapy, and researchers report waits for children and adolescents have nearly doubled since the pandemic, with clinicians warning the cut will lengthen queues and push some practices toward private patients or closure.
- Needs planning still relies on 1990s ratios even after a 2018 review called for about 2,400 extra therapy seats and only around 800 were added, while Bavaria reports rising part‑time work among psychotherapists that further limits capacity.