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Germany’s Psychotherapy Fee Cut Takes Effect as KBV Sues to Block It

The move signals pressure to cut costs that may collide with access to mental‑health care.

Overview

  • The 4.5% cut to fees for statutory psychotherapy, set for Wednesday, April 1, now faces a KBV lawsuit at the Berlin‑Brandenburg social court.
  • The March decision came from the Extended Evaluation Committee, a self‑governing panel for doctors, therapists and insurers, which also lifted an office‑cost allowance by 14.5% that the therapists’ chamber says still leaves a net loss of about 2.8%.
  • The insurers’ umbrella group defends the rollback, saying psychotherapists saw outsized raises in recent years and arguing a 10% cut would have been appropriate.
  • Therapists warn waits will lengthen as some practices keep only the required minimum hours for public patients and shift more time to better‑paid private sessions.
  • Protests and a petition with more than 500,000 signatures are adding pressure on Health Minister Nina Warken, who can still object to the cut under ministerial review rules.