Financial institutions push for mandatory reporting of accessible therapy centers with no associated cost
In Germany, the persistent issue of long wait times for psychotherapy appointments, particularly for severely mentally ill patients, is causing concern. The high demand for mental health services is outstripping the available therapy places[1].
To tackle this challenge, a significant proposed measure is the introduction of a legal duty for psychotherapists to report their therapy capacities. This would enable centralized management and allocation of appointments, aiming to more efficiently distribute available therapy places and reduce waiting times[1].
The GKV-Spitzenverband (the top association of statutory health insurance funds) has suggested that psychotherapists should regularly report how many free therapy slots they have. This information would be centralized and used to schedule appointments more effectively[1].
Patient advocates are also demanding a legal claim to suicide prevention in statutory health insurance, including short-term office hours, treatment spots, and outreach therapy[1]. The GKV association proposes that an appropriate number of office hours and half of the treatment spots of psychotherapists should be reported to appointment service centers and allocated exclusively through them[1].
In 2023, the mediation rate for such appointments was 46 percent, according to the association's figures. However, Stefanie Stoff-Ahnis, deputy head of the GKV association, has stated that severely mentally ill individuals cannot search for a therapy spot alone[1].
The German Foundation for Patient Protection has also joined the call for faster offers for mentally ill people[1]. Eugen Brysch, board member of the foundation, has suggested that the legal instruments are not sufficient to bind the Association of Statutory Health Physicians to their duty to provide care[1].
The Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) has reported on the position paper adopted by the GKV association[1]. This measure, reported in July 2025, reflects ongoing efforts to improve access to psychotherapy in Germany.
Annually, about every fourth adult is affected by a mental illness, but few get an immediate therapy spot[1]. The GKV association has emphasized that psychiatric illnesses have developed into a significant health challenge[1].
In summary, the persistent shortage of available psychotherapy slots and high demand, especially for patients with severe mental illness, is causing long wait times for appointments[1]. The proposed solution is to introduce a legal duty for psychotherapists to report capacity, enabling centralized booking and better utilization of existing resources[1].
- The ongoing concern in Germany is the substantial wait times for psychotherapy appointments, especially for those with severe mental health issues, due to the escalating demand for mental health services outweighing the available therapy places.
- A potential solution to this issue is the introduction of a legal obligation for psychotherapists to report their therapy capacities, which would facilitate centralized management and allocation of appointments, aiming to efficiently distribute available therapy places and reduce waiting times.
- Patient advocates are also pushing for a legal right to suicide prevention in statutory health insurance, including short-term office hours, treatment spots, and outreach therapy, in addition to advocating for the implementation of a legal duty for psychotherapists to report their available therapy slots.
- In 2023, the mediation rate for psychotherapy appointments was 46 percent, but the GKV association acknowledges that severely mentally ill individuals may not have the ability to search for therapy spots alone.
- The shortage of available psychotherapy slots and the high demand for mental health services have made psychiatric illnesses a significant health challenge in Germany, necessitating ongoing efforts to improve access to psychotherapy and mental health services.
