Der Nervenarzt
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The new German flat rate reimbursement system for psychiatry and psychosomatics (PEPP) is primarily based on the diagnostic classification and the costs of therapeutic processes. In 2019 the current normative standard for calculating the therapeutic staff in psychiatric clinics (Psych-PV) will be substituted by a stepwise adaptation process over 5 years. Using regionally calculated remuneration factors, all clinic budgets should eventually converge to comparable values. ⋯ A mandatory recommendation for minimum staff settings needs a guaranteed full financing from the political side. Additionally, important would be an option for financing of therapeutic innovations and increased costs because of changed patient structures with respect to diagnosis and severity. Moreover, a sufficient remuneration for regional treatment responsibilities and for additional financial outlay resulting from structural costs for regionally outsourced departments is needed to avoid supplementary financing by reducing the budget for the therapeutic staff.