Berlin psychotherapists rally against 4.5% fee cuts in historic protest

A surprise wave of protest swept Berlin as therapists united against funding cuts. Will the government intervene before April's deadline?

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2026 April 11 . 4:14 PM

1 min read

The image shows a large group of people wearing masks walking down a street lined with trees, light... — The image shows a large group of people wearing masks walking down a street lined with trees, light poles, traffic signals, sign boards, and buildings with windows. In the background, the sky is filled with clouds. Some of the people are holding bicycles, suggesting that they are participating in a protest in Berlin.

Protest Against Fee Cuts for Psychotherapists

Berlin psychotherapists rally against 4.5% fee cuts in historic protest

Berlin (dpa/bb) – Psychotherapists took to the streets of Berlin on Saturday to protest against planned fee reductions. At its peak, around 1,000 people joined the demonstration outside the Federal Ministry of Health, according to a police spokesperson, though organizers had registered 500 participants. The cuts stem from a 4.5% reduction in reimbursement rates set to take effect on April 1, a decision made by the Extended Evaluation Committee.

Speakers at the rally included psychotherapists as well as politicians Ricarda Lang (Green Party) and Heidi Reichinnek (Left Party). Protest signs bore slogans such as "4.5% cut = 100% miscalculated" and "Less psychotherapy today = higher costs tomorrow."

The Action Alliance for Psychotherapy, which organized the protest, is demanding that the approved fee cuts be reversed. The Federal Ministry of Health, led by Minister Nina Warken (CDU), has until mid-May to challenge and block the reduction.

The Extended Evaluation Committee includes representatives from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV), the German Federation of Health Insurance Funds (GKV), and independent members. The KBV, which represents both statutory health insurance doctors and psychotherapists, stated that it had voted against the fee cuts. Last week, the KBV announced plans to take legal action against the decision.