How to obtain a prescription
Neurofeedback is prescribed as occupational therapy — your doctor issues a therapeutic remedy prescription (Muster 13). Here you can see exactly what needs to be written on it.
For privately insured clients: how to clarify reimbursement
Neurofeedback is used as a method within occupational therapy. Your doctor prescribes occupational therapy — I provide neurofeedback as the treatment method. For reimbursement through your private health insurance (PKV), we recommend the following process:
Step 1: Contact your PKV insurer
Call your private health insurance provider and clarify the following points before therapy begins:
- Is occupational therapy (Heilmittel / therapeutic remedy) included in my tariff?
- Are home visits reimbursed? (Our practice is mobile — treatment takes place in your home)
- Is computer-assisted therapy (neurofeedback/biofeedback) reimbursed as an occupational therapy service?
- What is the reimbursement rate for therapeutic remedies (occupational therapy)?
- Is there a maximum limit per session, per prescription, or per year?
- Is a cost estimate required in advance?
- Does there need to be a medical prescription, and must it state “Hausbesuch” (home visit)?
- Is there a home-visit surcharge that is reimbursed (flat fee + kilometres travelled)?
Step 2: Obtain a medical prescription
Ask your doctor for a prescription for occupational therapy. You can say:
“I would like to do occupational therapy with neurofeedback. Could you please issue a prescription for psychisch-funktionelle Behandlung (psychological-functional treatment)?”
Advantages for PKV:
- The prescription has no fixed expiry period — unlike the 14-day time pressure that applies in statutory insurance (GKV)
- Ask the doctor to note “Hausbesuch” (home visit) on the prescription — this makes PKV reimbursement of the home-visit surcharge easier
- No prior authorisation by the insurer is usually required
Which doctor?
Paediatrician
For ADHD, concentration problems, and behavioural difficulties in children.
Psychiatrist / Neurologist
For depression, anxiety disorders, trauma/PTSD, and sleep disorders.
General practitioner
For burnout, stress, sleep difficulties, and general overload.
Psychotherapist
Since 2021, authorised to prescribe for certain diagnoses.
Step 3: Receive a cost estimate from us
After the free initial consultation, I will prepare a cost estimate for you including:
- Type of therapy (e.g. psychological-functional treatment with ILF neurofeedback)
- Expected number of sessions
- Cost per session (according to GebüTh)
- Estimated total cost
You can submit this cost estimate to your PKV insurer in advance to clarify reimbursement.
Step 4: Fee agreement & start of therapy
At the first appointment, we sign a fee agreement — this ensures that everything is regulated transparently. Therapy can then begin.
Step 5: Submit the invoice
After each session (or in a combined invoice), you receive a detailed invoice with all information your PKV insurer needs. You submit this together with the medical prescription to your insurer.
For self-paying clients: start immediately
If you are paying privately, you need no prescription and no authorisation. You can begin therapy directly after the free initial consultation.
- No prescription required — no prior doctor’s appointment needed
- No approval procedure — no waiting time
- Flexible therapy duration — you decide how long
- Package prices possible (10 sessions: €1,199 / 20 sessions: €2,199)
- May be tax-deductible as an extraordinary burden
For doctors: issuing the prescription correctly
Neurofeedback is used as a method within occupational therapy. The prescription form differs depending on the type of insurance:
- GKV-insured patients: Muster 13 (Heilmittelverordnung / therapeutic remedy prescription) — the standard statutory insurance form
- PKV-insured patients: Open-format private prescription — no mandatory form, no Muster 13
Muster 13 — GKV (statutory insurance prescription)
Standard two-page form (DIN A5) of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung. Only for statutory insured patients.
| Therapeutic remedy area | Tick Ergotherapie (occupational therapy) |
| Therapeutic remedy | Psychisch-funktionelle Behandlung (psychological-functional treatment) Alternative: Sensomotorisch-perzeptive Behandlung or Hirnleistungstraining |
| Diagnosis (ICD-10) | e.g. F90.0, F32.1, F41.1, F43.1, Z73.0 |
| Indication code | PS1 (most common) |
| Leading symptoms | e.g. “attention disorder” or “emotion regulation disorder” |
| Quantity | 10 units (max. 20) |
| Frequency | 1–3× per week |
| Home visit | Yes — tick the box |
| Therapy report | Yes, recommended |
| Validity | 14 days from the date of issue |
Private prescription — PKV
Open format, not Muster 13. No mandatory KV form.
Medical prescription
Client: [Name, address, date of birth]
Diagnosis: [ICD-10 + plain text]
e.g. F90.0 ADHD
Prescription: Occupational therapy,
psychological-functional treatment
Quantity: 10 treatments
Frequency: 1–3× / week
Home visit: Yes
[Date] · [Stamp] · [Signature]
- No expiry period
- No catalogue restriction
- Free choice of methods
- No quantity limit
GKV: Muster 13 form (pink/red, two-sided DIN A5), health insurer name + insurance number visible, BSNR + LANR of the doctor.
PKV: Open-format prescription (white paper, practice letterhead), no insurance number, no Muster form. Often labelled “Privatrezept” or “Privatverordnung”.
Common ICD-10 codes for neurofeedback occupational therapy
Psychological-functional treatment (PS) — our focus
60 minutes per session · Billing code X0503 · Preferred prescription for neurofeedback
| ICD-10 | Diagnosis | Code |
|---|---|---|
| F90.0 | ADHD, predominantly inattentive | PS1 |
| F90.1 | ADHD, hyperactive-impulsive | PS1 |
| F90.8 / F90.9 | ADHD, other / unspecified | PS1 |
| F98.8 | Attention disorder without hyperactivity (ADD) | PS1 |
| F32.0–F32.2 | Depressive episode (mild to severe) | PS1 / PS3 |
| F33.0–F33.2 | Recurrent depressive disorder | PS1 / PS3 |
| F34.1 | Dysthymia (chronic mild depression) | PS1 |
| F41.0 | Panic disorder | PS1 |
| F41.1 | Generalised anxiety disorder | PS1 |
| F41.2 | Mixed anxiety and depressive disorder | PS1 |
| F40.1 | Social phobia | PS1 |
| F43.1 | PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) | PS1 / PS3 |
| F43.2 | Adjustment disorders | PS1 |
| F43.0 | Acute stress reaction | PS1 |
| F51.0 | Non-organic insomnia | PS1 |
| F51.9 | Non-organic sleep disorder | PS1 |
| Z73.0 | Burnout / exhaustion syndrome | PS1 |
| F48.0 | Neurasthenia (chronic exhaustion) | PS1 |
| F45.0–F45.4 | Somatoform disorders | PS1 / PS2 |
| F60.3 | Emotionally unstable personality disorder | PS3 |
| F84.0 | Autism spectrum disorder | PS1 / EN1 |
| F95.1–F95.2 | Tic disorders / Tourette syndrome | PS1 / EN1 |
Sensorimotor-perceptive treatment (EN)
45 minutes per session · Billing code X0502 · For neurological indications
| ICD-10 | Diagnosis | Code |
|---|---|---|
| G43.0–G43.9 | Migraine | EN1 / PS1 |
| G44.2 | Tension headache | EN1 |
| R51 | Headache, unspecified | EN1 |
| G47.0 | Difficulty falling or staying asleep (organic) | EN1 |
| G93.3 | Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME/CFS | EN1 / EN2 |
| G40.x | Epilepsy (complementary, in coordination with a doctor) | EN1 / EN2 |
| I69.x | Condition after stroke (rehabilitation) | EN2 |
| S06.x | Traumatic brain injury (rehabilitation) | EN2 |
| F82 | Developmental disorder of motor function | EN1 |
Motor-functional treatment (SB) & cognitive training
30–45 minutes · Billing codes X0501 / X0504 · Complementary indications
| ICD-10 | Diagnosis | Code |
|---|---|---|
| M54.x | Back pain (e.g. for kinesiotaping) | SB1 |
| M79.1 | Myalgia (muscle pain) | SB1 |
| R41.3 | Other amnesia / memory disorders | EN2 (HLT) |
| F06.7 | Mild cognitive disorder | EN2 (HLT) |
Highlighted rows = our most common indications.
PKV · self-pay · GKV at a glance
We currently work with privately insured and self-paying clients. The GKV column is provided for orientation only.
| Aspect | PKV (private) ✓ | Self-pay ✓ | GKV (comparison only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available with us? | Yes | Yes | Not yet — planned |
| Prescription required? | Yes (for reimbursement) | No | Yes (Muster 13) |
| Prescription validity | No expiry period | — | 14 days |
| Advance clarification | Contact PKV + cost estimate | Not required | Doctor issues prescription |
| Billing | GebüTh — you submit the invoice | Private invoice directly | Insurer directly (X0503) |
| Cost per session | €100 (reimbursement depends on tariff) | €100 | ~€73 (paid by insurer) |
| Your co-payment | Depends on tariff (often 0–20%) | Full price | 10% + €10 prescription fee |
| Tax deductible | Own contribution may be deductible | Yes (§ 33 EStG) | Co-payment may be deductible |
| Sessions | Individually agreed | Unlimited | 10 per prescription (max. 20) |
| Home visit | Included in invoice | €15–35 flat fee | Insurer pays surcharge |
| Therapy start | After initial consultation + PKV clarification | Immediately after initial consultation | After doctor’s prescription |
| Therapeutic freedom | High — no rigid rules, individual methods | Full — you and your therapist decide freely | Limited by cost-efficiency rules |
| Waiting time for appointment | Short — no budget restrictions | None — direct appointment scheduling | Can be longer (budget limits) |
| Prior authorisation | Usually not required | Not required | Insurer reviews retrospectively |
| Change of therapist | Possible at any time, prescription remains valid | Free at any time | New prescription required |
| Data sharing | Invoice only — therapy content only with your consent | None — full professional confidentiality | Therapy reports to insurer |
| Duration of treatment | As needed, no fixed upper limit | Unlimited, you decide | Limited by prescription |
Unsure? I can help.
In the free initial consultation, I explain exactly which route makes sense for you — GKV, PKV, or self-pay. Together we find the best solution for your situation.