German psychotherapists demand continued extrabudgetary funding

The German Psychotherapists Association (DPtV) is calling for the continued extrabudgetary reimbursement of all outpatient psychotherapy services. During a hearing of the Bundestag Health Committee, Enno Maaß criticized the Statutory Health Insurance Contribution Stabilization Act, arguing it interferes with the care of mentally ill individuals.

The Federal Ministry of Health noted that most extrabudgetary reimbursements will be transitioned into the morbidity-related total compensation. For 2025, the volume of affected services is estimated at 3.9 billion euros. While the ministry stated that ongoing treatments will continue without reimbursement deductions until completion, the DPtV is seeking legal clarification in the Social Code (SGB V) to avoid uncertainty regarding minimum compensation.

In response to legislative developments, the SPD parliamentary group announced that improvements to psychotherapy care are underway. These measures aim to ensure reliable access for children, adolescents, and severely mentally ill patients. While many services move to standard compensation, extrabudgetary funding will be maintained for urgent cases and specific high-need groups, with the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) tasked with developing clear criteria for determining urgency.