Mental health providers: frequently asked questions about the CM benefit of psychological care
No, no agreements have been concluded with CM since 01-01-2022. From 2022, we will follow the recognition conditions of the Federal Public Service for Mental Health Professions and will no longer have our own recognition criteria.
If you do not have either recognition number, but you meet the FOD recognition conditions for a psychotherapy practitioner, you can submit an application via [email protected] to obtain a recognition number. You can subsequently mention this approval number on the application form to open up the right to reimbursement for your clients.
To apply for a FPS visa number, we refer you to the FPS Health website where you can read all the information.
The CM reimbursement for psychological care does not include any change in the number of reimbursable sessions and the reimbursement rate. The history of psychotherapy sessions already reimbursed to the member will be included in 2023. The number of refunded sessions continues to count.
No, only one refund can be made per session.
For treatments from January 1, 2023, reimbursement is also possible for sessions with a clinical sexologist recognized by VVS.
Within healthcare we distinguish three types of insurance:
- Mandatory insurance
This statutory insurance is part of social security and is available to every resident of Belgium. This is managed by the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance or Riziv. The health insurance funds have been appointed by the Riziv for the payment of reimbursements that fall under this statutory health insurance.
The ELP project is part of that. More info.
- Additional insurance
This is the package of additional services and benefits offered by the health insurance funds. The CM benefit of psychological care is located below.
A member of a health insurance fund can make use of this by paying an annual membership fee/contribution. Since 2019, a resident of Belgium is obliged to join a health insurance fund and to determine the membership fee for this. The choice of which health insurance fund you wish to join is free.
Each health insurance fund determines the composition of the package of additional services and benefits on the basis of an extensive financial plan. This package is financed by contributions paid by members. As a result, the membership contribution, the composition of the package, the conditions and the reimbursement of benefits may differ per health insurance fund.
- Optional insurance
These are insurance policies that members can freely choose to take out, for example hospitalization insurance. In addition to hospitalization insurance, CM also offers additional insurance for medical costs without hospitalization: CM-MediKo Plan .
The reimbursement is granted for the treatment or guidance of mental health problems for which no intervention is provided by compulsory health insurance. Diagnosis and evaluation sessions are also reimbursable.
All dependent children up to the age of 25 or members who can demonstrate that they are still entitled to a Groeipakket at the time of the session.
Out of understanding the time and financial investment and each individual's situation, completing the test is not an obstacle to receiving reimbursement. If canceling the test early impacts the amount paid, and therefore results in a difference in reimbursement, this must be reported to your health insurance fund. Reimbursement amounts to 35% of the cost up to €350 (members with VT are entitled to 50% up to €500).
Only if the intelligence assessment is part of a broader research project on a developmental disorder. A separate intelligence assessment conducted without the support of a research project is not reimbursed.
The requirement is that the test be performed in response to a suspected developmental disorder. The final results of the diagnostic test will not impact our reimbursement.
Psychodiagnostics in the context of youth care subsidized by Flemish departments.
- student guidance centers (CLB), subsidized by the Department of Onderwijs en Vorming;
- mental health care centers (CGG), subsidized by the Department of Zorg;
- reception, observation and orientation centres (OOOC), subsidized by Opgroeien;
- centers for developmental disorders (COS), subsidized by Opgroeien;
- observation and treatment centres (OBC), subsidised by Opgroeien.
More information can be found at Jeugdhulp.be | Diagnostiek .
In March 2025, the Kwaliteitscentrum Diagnostiek published the Autism Diagnosis Guideline. This guideline states that an autism diagnosis should not be made on a monodisciplinary basis. It recommends that both a psychological or educational discipline (such as a clinical psychologist or clinical educational psychologist) and a medical discipline ((child and adolescent) psychiatrist, (child) neurologist, or neuropediatrician) be involved in the diagnostic process. This multidisciplinary approach is also applied to the requirements of the CM benefit.
Yes. Online sessions are eligible for a refund when they take place through a secure online communication channel that ensures the minimum conditions and usage rules for secure communication as stated on the eHealth platform .
Reimbursement for a session on BloomUp is automatic for CM members. For online sessions that are not conducted through BloomUp, a member can request a refund using an application form on which you as a healthcare provider indicate that it was an online session. You find the application form on the page about the CM benefit psychological care.
The first contact is an introductory meeting of about 15 minutes and not an intake interview. The introductory meeting is intended to introduce the user to the content of the psychological care offered and to get to know the professional and his/her working method. This means that no formal intake, therapy or care is yet taking place. The user starts the conversation without any obligation to actually follow further (paying) therapy.
The purpose of the first conversation is to lower the threshold for users so that they can be informed very easily digitally about what further psychological assistance may entail.
Clinical orthopedagogues are currently unable to do this. But if, as a clinical educational psychologist, you also meet the FPS recognition conditions for a practitioner of psychotherapy, you can register as a psychotherapist.
When a member agrees to provide their session details to CM, the member will automatically receive the refund for this session and no further action is required.
BloomUp regularly provides this information in a secure manner to CM, which is responsible for processing the refund.