[The Structural Reform in Outpatient Psychotherapy Shows Effects in Health Service Utilization, Especially in Younger...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Psychotherapy Access
• Healthcare Policy Reform

Background:

• Germany implemented a structural reform of outpatient psychotherapy in 2017.
• The reform aimed to enhance the ease and flexibility of accessing guideline-based psychotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if the 2017 reform increased access to outpatient psychotherapy.
• To identify the treatment pathways utilized by patients post-reform.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of nationwide AOK routine data from two cohorts (2016 and 2019).
• Inclusion of insured individuals with new diagnoses requiring psychotherapy, stratified by age and gender.
• Examination of treatment receipt under psychotherapy guidelines and utilized treatment elements.

Main Results:

• A higher proportion of individuals with mental disorders received guideline-based psychotherapy post-reform.
• Increased treatment access was observed among women, particularly adolescents and young adults.
• Newly introduced services, including psychotherapeutic consultation hours and acute treatment, saw significant uptake.

Conclusions:

• The 2017 reform appears successful in improving outpatient psychotherapy access for specific population groups.
• Psychotherapeutic consultation hours effectively addressed previously unmet counseling needs not covered by the fee schedule.