At its meeting on 22 November 2018, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) confirmed the benefits and medical necessity of systemic therapy for adults. This lays the foundation for systemic psychotherapy to be covered by statutory health insurance funds in future.

The G-BA decides on behalf of the legislator which medical or medical-technical examination and treatment methods those with statutory health insurance are entitled to. It is the highest decision-making body of the joint self-administration of doctors, dentists, psychotherapists, hospitals and health insurance funds in Germany and its plenary sessions are open to the public.

The Chairs of the SG and DGSF were present at the meeting on 22 November 2018. A video has been published on the DGSF Facebook page featuring Ulrike Borst (SG Chair) and Enno Hermans (DGSF Chair) as well as Kerstin Dittrich (DGSF Specialist Officer) and Sebastian Baumann (SG Board Representative for Psychotherapy), in which they comment on the good news directly after the meeting in Berlin: www.facebook.com/dgsf.org
Press release from the G-BA:
Benefits and medical necessity of systemic therapy recognised
Press release from the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists:
www.bptk.de/aktuell/einzelseite/artikel/wirksamkeit-2.html
The DGSF and SG press release on the decision:
www.dgsf.org/presse/pressemitteilungen/g-ba-legt-grundlage-fuer-kassenfinanzierte-systemische-psychotherapie

Note:
It will be some time before the first settlements can be made with the statutory public health insurance (GKV). Firstly, the psychotherapy guideline must be amended accordingly. And the current decision only applies to adult psychotherapy. Psychological psychotherapists (with a licence to practise in the specialisation area of systemic therapy) and a "Kassensitz" will then be able to settle accounts with the health insurance fund.
For more information, visit www.dgsf.org/themen/gesundheitspolitisches/mythen-und-fakten-rund-um-die-sozialrechtliche-anerkennung-der-systemischen-psychotherapie