New Psychotherapy Directive and Job Sharing Changes Approved
Germany's Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) has amended its psychotherapy directive and approved structural reforms for outpatient psychotherapy services.
The Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) in Germany approved amendments to its directive on the implementation of psychotherapy on June 16, 2016. This decision restructures outpatient psychotherapy services in accordance with the GKV-Versorgungsstärkungsgesetz (GKV-VSG) health care reform law.
The professional association VPP, part of BDP, expressed mixed views on the reforms. Concurrently, the G-BA adjusted regulations for job sharing (Jobsharing). These changes allow therapists practicing job sharing with a practice volume below average to increase their revenue more significantly than before.
Berufsverband Deutscher Psychologinnen und Psychologen (BDP) also supports efforts to ensure appropriate salary grading for employed psychotherapists in the public sector. The VPP has initiated a signature campaign advocating for employed psychotherapists to receive salary classifications equivalent to those of medical specialists.
Furthermore, the BDP, along with over 20 other psychotherapeutic professional associations, has issued a joint statement on internet therapy. The statement outlines essential quality and diligence criteria for psychotherapeutic interventions conducted online or via other electronic communication methods.
The number of sick leave days due to mental health conditions is substantial. In 2014, employees were absent for nearly 80 million days because of mental health issues, making them the second leading cause of work incapacity in Germany, after musculoskeletal disorders.