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Germany to Cut Psychotherapy Fees by 4.5% on April 1 as Backlash Intensifies

Therapists warn of longer waits in a system already averaging about 142 days to start treatment.

Overview

  • The Extended Valuation Committee approved a 4.5% reduction in statutory ambulatory psychotherapy tariffs from April 1, with structure surcharges raised by roughly 14.25% retroactive to January 1.
  • Estimates of the net revenue impact diverge, with the GKV citing about a 2.3% decrease and the BPtK and other associations calculating roughly 2.8% to 3.5%.
  • Opposition has escalated into nationwide demonstrations, and a petition calling for reversal has gathered around 400,000 signatures within days.
  • The KBV voted against the decision, the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Thüringen urged a stop, and the DGVT filed a formal objection with the federal health ministry.
  • The GKV defends the move as a data-driven adjustment after comparatively larger past increases, while critics warn of shifts toward private patients, longer waits for the publicly insured, and pressure on a field with the lowest practice returns.