On September 3, 2012, the Tuscan Region introduced
a new fees schedule for regional health care services. In particular, the new
schedule increases the minimum fee charged for health care services for those
who earn more than 36,000 euro a year.
The fee increase is necessary to replenish the
Region’s health-care coffers, regional officials say, in light of the cuts
imposed through the national government’s recently passed spending review
decree, which has slashed 400 million euro from the funds allocated for
Tuscany’s health care system.
‘In the redesign of the
health-care fee scheme,’ said the regional health rights commissioner Luigi
Marroni, ‘we let ourselves be guided by the principle of equality. We have only
introduced an increase for those with higher incomes, above 36,000 euro, while
continuing to protect the most vulnerable; we are asking for more from those
who have more. Equality and universality must remain fixed reference points in
our health care system.’
Those earning more than 36,000 euro a year will
pay from 1 to 4 euro per medication at the pharmacy. They will also pay more
for medical services, such as medically assisted procreation and in vitro
fertilization, specialist outpatient services such as rehabilitation and
day-hospital interventions and surgeries, and an array of medical exams. For
details on the new fee schedule, including and a list of those exempt from the
fees, see www.regione.toscana.it/ticketsanitario (in Italian); email ticket.sanita@regione.toscana.it; or call the toll-free
number 800/556060 (9am to 3pm).
