Visits to a clinical psychologist can be reimbursed from Autumn 2018, a restricted ministerial committee decided on Friday at the initiative of Social Affairs and Health Minister Maggie De Block. The profession of clinical psychologist has been officially recognized since 2016.
Some 120,000 patients referred by their general practitioner or psychiatrist will be able to receive reimbursement much faster for short-term treatment by their primary clinical psychologist up to a maximum of four consultations per year. This is mainly for the treatment of common ailments such as anxiety disorder, depression or alcoholism.
Before the profession was officially recognized, people sometimes waited for years to be reimbursed.
An annual budget of 22.5 million euros has been earmarked for the reimbursements.
The Brussels Times
