Germany clarifies eligibility for outpatient psychiatric home nursing

Outpatient psychiatric home nursing (phKP) in Germany is intended to help people with severe mental illnesses such as psychosis or dementia regain independence in their own homes. Qualified specialists—psychiatrists, neurologists, psychotherapists, and in some cases general practitioners after specialist confirmation—can prescribe the service. According to the Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss (G‑BA) guideline, an initial prescription is limited to up to four months and may be extended in justified individual cases. During preventive care periods, the nursing care allowance continues at half the usual rate. The service includes assistance with daily tasks, leisure activities, and coordination of outpatient visits, aiming to reintegrate patients into societal life.

The regulation emphasizes that the care is time‑limited and subject to assessment of likely success, with the health insurance funds covering the associated costs under the statutory care insurance scheme.