Systemic psychotherapy soon cash benefit?

G-BA lays the foundation for cash-funded systemic psychotherapy

Systemic psychotherapy can provide relief for a variety of mental illnesses, but so far it usually has to be paid out of pocket. Because it is not part of the service catalog of the statutory health insurance. That could change soon. Because the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has now confirmed the benefits and medical need of systemic therapy for adults, according to the latest release of the German Society for Systemic Therapy, Counseling and Family Therapy (DGSF).

With the recognition of the benefits and the medical necessity of systemic therapy for adults, the G-BA has laid the foundation for the fact that systemic psychotherapy can be taken over in the future as an insurance benefit from the statutory health insurance, reports the association. Now, the G-BA Psychotherapy Subcommittee must start discussing the extension of the Psychotherapy Directive to include Systemic Therapy.

The systemic psychotherapy will soon be taken over by the statutory health insurance if needed. (Image: Photographee.eu/fotolia.com)

Good news for patients

"The recognition of Systemic Therapy by the G-BA is good news for the patients in Germany"; emphasizes Björn Enno Hermans, Chairman of the German Society for Systemic Therapy, Counseling and Family Therapy. The offer of a cash-financed systemic therapy meant an important improvement of the psychotherapeutic treatment offer.

Clear vote for systemic psychotherapy

The decision of the G-BA was, according to the DGSF "with the votes of the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, the German Hospital Association and the three impartial members made possible, following a clear plea by the G-BA chairman Professor Josef Hecken for the recognition of systemic therapy."

Approval for various applications

The vote noted the benefits of systemic therapy in five areas of psychotherapy, including the most prevalent mental illnesses: anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder and mood disorders (depression). For a certification as a health care physicians benefit must be proven for these indications mandatory.

Benefit assessment by the IQWiG

The decision was based on a benefit assessment of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG), which had examined the benefit in seven areas of disturbance on behalf of the G-BA. "In 2013, the request for the benefit assessment was submitted to the then impartial member Dr. Ing. Harald Deisler, "reports the DGSF. Ten years ago, the Systemic Therapy was recognized by the Scientific Advisory Council for Psychotherapy.

Adaptation of psychotherapy guideline required

"We welcome the fact that, for the first time in 31 years, a highly effective psychotherapy procedure will be included in the catalog of benefits of health insurances before it is accepted," emphasizes Dr. med. Ulrike Borst, chairman of the Systemic Society (SG). Mental illnesses have long since become widespread diseases and those affected depend on every possibility of help. However, until systemic therapy becomes a health insurance fund, patients have to be patient for a while, because in the next step the concrete adaptation of the psychotherapy guideline has to be carried out, according to the medical association.

Hope for early implementation

According to a response from the Federal Ministry of Health to a small request from Alliance 90 / The Greens in the Bundestag, the evaluation procedure for systemic therapy will be completed by March 2019, reports the DGSF. "We are pleased that the G-BA has provided for an improvement in the psychotherapeutic care in Germany and on the basis of today's decision Systemic Therapy can soon be available to all patients," concludes Sebastian Baumann, Executive Officer Psychotherapy the SG. (Fp)