Higher Social Court Halts Cut to Psychotherapists' Remuneration on Provisional Basis

Background of the Dispute

The background is a lawsuit filed by the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), which also represents psychotherapists. The case file number of the interim proceedings is L 7 KA 11/26 KL ER. The KBV had previously opposed the ten percent cut originally demanded by the GKV-Spitzenverband and also fought against the now-suspended decision by all available means.

The so-called Extended Evaluation Committee had decided in March to reduce fees for psychotherapists by 4.5 percent as of 1 April of this year. At the same time, allowances for financing personnel costs were increased retroactively as of 1 January by 14 percent. In sum, this would result in a reduction of 2.3 percent for this year, as explained by the central association of statutory health insurance funds (GKV).

The now-suspended cut had been decided in the Extended Evaluation Committee against the votes of the KBV. The committee, which consists of three representatives each from the KBV and the GKV-Spitzenverband, is expanded in cases of conflict by three impartial members and decided in this composition against the KBV.

Reasoning of the Court

The Higher Social Court justified the provisional suspension of enforcement, among other things, with concerns about the methodology of calculations on which the Extended Evaluation Committee's decision on the fee reduction was based. "Nach Auffassung der Richter gibt es Zweifel an den Berechnungen", the reasoning states. Specifically, the court objected to a distortion: for the billing of specialists, figures from 2024 were used, but for a psychotherapeutic practice, values for 2026. The court ordered the suspensive effect of the lawsuit because the Extended Evaluation Committee had not demonstrated any special public interest in immediate enforcement.

This prompted protests nationwide. Among other concerns, there are fears that the cut could exacerbate the already strained supply situation regarding therapy places. The Association of Psychological Psychotherapists fears a further deterioration in care should the cut stand.

Protests and Supply Situation

A standard formal review of the decision by the Federal Ministry of Health had previously found no indications of legal objections, as a ministry spokesperson said in early June. The ministry had found no formal defects at first glance; the substantive review of the calculation basis, however, was reserved for the court.

Outlook on the Main Proceedings

The National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) thereby achieved a provisional success in court in the dispute over the cut to remuneration for psychotherapeutic services. When the lawsuit will be decided on the merits is still open, the court said. The judges made clear that the fee reduction must not be applied until a final decision in the main proceedings.

The Evaluation Committee reviews annually whether the valuation of psychotherapeutic services is appropriate. With the interim order, the politically and professionally controversial cut is halted for now – the final resolution in the main proceedings remains to be seen.

This news was broadcast on 09.07.2026 on Deutschlandfunk.