Clinical Psychological Therapy Now Covered by Insurance

Clinical-psychological treatment will be available as a fully funded health insurance benefit from spring 2026. The Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), together with SVS and BVAEB, has concluded a general contract with the Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists (BÖP), the parties announced on Wednesday. 120,700 treatment units will be available per year. According to ÖGK, the financing is secured until 2028 for the time being.

Over 120,000 Therapy Units Per Year

Until now, there were only cost subsidies for clinical-psychological treatments. The new measure is intended to improve the care of people with mental illnesses, according to the ÖGK in a press release.

With the treatment units provided from next year, pre-financing by the insured will be eliminated. Waiting times are also expected to decrease. Access will be via a central service point of the professional association BÖP from spring 2026. Insured persons can register there in the future, and they will then be referred to clinical psychologists near their place of residence. The services are to be provided nationwide "according to the population distribution".

ÖGK Chairman Huss: "Particularly Important Decision"

ÖGK Chairman Andreas Huss expressed his satisfaction, speaking of a "particularly important decision" for the uniform further development of psychosocial care. "We are investing specifically in mental health and strengthening care where the need has been increasing for years," he said in a statement.

Unfortunately, the financing by the federal government is only secured until 2028. "We will do everything we can to ensure permanent financing with the federal government," said the chairman.

Professional Association: "Pioneering Step"

The Professional Association of Psychologists (BÖP) spoke in a statement of a "pioneering step", with which from spring 2026 (the exact start date is not yet completely fixed, note) "for the first time in history" fully funded health insurance places for clinical-psychological therapy will be available. "A milestone for psychology in Austria and an important, long overdue step for better psychosocial care for people in Austria," said the BÖP.

"After the inclusion of clinical-psychological treatment and psychological therapy as a health insurance service last year, we see this new step as monumental for all people in Austria," explained BÖP President Beate Wimmer-Puchinger. Free insurance-covered places would enable low-threshold and quality-assured psychosocial care for all of Austria. The cost subsidy for clinical-psychological treatment/psychological therapy will also continue to exist alongside the free insurance-covered places - for example, for places with therapists without an insurance contract.

Minister Schumann: "Special Concern"

Social and Health Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) stated in a statement to the APA that the expansion of services for the treatment of mental illnesses is a "particularly important concern" for her. "Every affected person should be able to feel that their own mental health is taken seriously and that support is not only promised but actually available."

The head of the department referred to the "many societal and economic challenges of our time," which have "led to an increased use of psychotherapeutic services" in recent years. "More and more people have the courage to seek support - and it is our task to make this help reliably and without barriers accessible to them." Schumann also reminded that "in this sense," since January 1, 2024, the services of clinical psychologists have been equated with medical assistance.

The minister also pointed out that so far, within social insurance, there have only been nationwide contracts for the area of psychotherapy and clinical-psychological diagnostics. The fact that there was only the mentioned cost subsidy for clinical-psychological treatment placed additional burdens on many people - "precisely where relief would actually be needed." With the now adopted overall contract, a "long-awaited step" is being implemented, "which directly benefits patients."

Difference Between Clinical-Psychological Therapy and Psychotherapy

The professional title "Psychologist" is legally protected in Austria. The prerequisite is a degree in psychology amounting to at least 300 ECTS points (master's or diploma degree), as explained on the website of the professional association. Furthermore, for those areas of psychology that concern health, training in clinical psychology and/or health psychology is required in addition to the psychology degree. The training in clinical psychology (for which the new "service agreement" applies) comprises at least 2,500 hours, while that of health psychology comprises at least 2,000 hours.

Clinical psychologists treat, provide therapy, and counsel people with mental illnesses. According to BÖP, they tailor their treatment to the specific disorder or associated complaints and the agreed treatment goal, working across methods and schools, evidence-based according to scientific standards, and base their approach on careful diagnostic examinations and scientifically evaluated methods. Clinical psychologists measure and assess functions, such as attention, memory, or impulse control, using standardized test procedures. Therapy may include targeted training (for example, to increase attention).

Psychotherapists, like clinical psychologists, can diagnose and treat mental illnesses - they specialize in a specific psychotherapeutic method (e.g., behavioral therapy). Their fields of work include psychotherapeutic assessment, assistance in life crises, changing disturbed behaviors and attitudes, or promoting maturation, as stated on the BÖP site. A psychology degree is not a prerequisite here, but the completion of the so-called propaedeutic course (with prior high school graduation and certain professions as prerequisites) as well as a specific training in one or more psychotherapy procedures.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.