After years of waiting and uncertainties linked to the feedback between the State and the Regions, good news has finally arrived for Italian citizens: a fundamental agreement has been reached for the entry into force of the Tariff Decree, which marks a turning point in the adaptation of the Essential Levels of Assistance (LEA). The decree, the result of an agreement between the Ministry of Health and the Regions, represents a decisive step towards the uniformity and updating of tariffs for healthcare services throughout Italy. The innovation, which will come into force from 30 December 2024, introduces a series of updates regarding outpatient specialists and prosthetic assistance, areas that have not seen significant changes for over 20 years.
A central aspect of this provision is the introduction of a new nomenclature of healthcare services, which finally surpasses the tariffs dating back to 1996 for outpatient specialists and 1999 for prosthetics respectively. The new version of the decree, approved at the State-Regions Conference, concerns 1,113 tariffs out of a total of 3,171 services, with a significant financial impact of 550 million euros. This update is a response to the growing needs of the healthcare system, which will now be able to count on adequate financing to guarantee universal and homogeneous access to quality healthcare services and benefits throughout the national territory.
Maria GrAuntie Vacchina
The Tariff Decree is part of the implementation of the LEAs, which have been awaiting full and uniform implementation since 2017. Cittadinanzattiva, which has always been committed to defending citizens’ rights in the healthcare sector, welcomed this agreement, while reiterating the importance of continuous monitoring. “A step that we have been pushing for for a long time, with actions of all kinds,” comments Maria Grazia Vacchina, secretary of Cittadinanzattiva Valle d’Aosta. “Our commitment has always been to ensure that the funds allocated to healthcare are effectively used to improve access to services, and not for other purposes. The satisfaction with the agreement reached is great, but we will not lower our guard: it is It is essential that the LEAs are updated and made accessible to all, without regional inequalities.”
Anna Lisa Mandorino, general secretary of Cittadinanzattiva, highlighted how this agreement represents a victory for citizens and for the entire healthcare system, which is preparing to face the challenges of the future. “We reserve the right to read the decree carefully – continues Mandorino – to identify any critical issues and we will continue to ensure that the right to health is guaranteed equally throughout the country”. The decree, in fact, not only updates the tariffs, but also ensures that the services are aligned with scientific and technological innovations in the medical field, guaranteeing access to the latest innovations in the diagnostic and therapeutic fields.
Anna Lisa Mandorino
Among the main innovations introduced by the Tariff Decree, we highlight the inclusion of new services in the LEAs, such as medically assisted procreation, services for the diagnosis and monitoring of celiac disease and rare diseases, as well as the introduction of advanced techniques in radiotherapy , such as stereotactic radiotherapy and hadrontherapy. Furthermore, prosthetic care is being enhanced with the introduction of high-tech aids, including digital hearing aids, advanced prosthetics and communication systems for people with severe disabilities. These measures will ensure that all citizens, regardless of the region in which they live, can access modern and effective healthcare treatments.
The decree also has a significant impact on public finances, with an increase in resources available for outpatient and prosthetic specialist services of 700 million euros compared to 2012. This investment will make it possible to improve the efficiency of the healthcare system, reducing inequalities between the different regions and ensuring that all healthcare facilities, public and private, can provide adequate services.
In addition to guaranteeing access to the new LEAs, the decree also provides for a periodic update of the tariffs, with a biennial mechanism that will take into account the real costs of the services, based on an analysis that will involve a selection of public and private healthcare facilities. This review will ensure that fees are always in line with actual costs and that the healthcare system can continue to offer high-quality services without waste or inefficiencies.
Cittadinanzattiva, therefore, positively welcomes this agreement and the approval of the Tariff Decree, but reiterates the importance of constant attention to the implementation methods. “Our work does not end here”, concludes Maria Grazia Vacchina. “Supervising the correct implementation of these measures and ensuring that citizens’ rights are always respected is our priority. Only in this way can we truly talk about equitable and accessible healthcare for all.”
The Tariff Decree therefore represents a milestone in the reform of the Italian healthcare system, but the real challenge will be to monitor its implementation and to guarantee that every citizen, wherever they live, can benefit from the healthcare services they are entitled to, without discrimination. Cittadinanzattiva will continue to carry out its role of control and reporting to protect citizens’ rights, so that Italian healthcare becomes increasingly efficient, fair and able to respond to the challenges of the future.
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