After a boom in patients who never pay for their medical appointments, the Region of Tuscany has ruled that visits to specialists and for examinations must be paid in advance.
With the number of patients getting free appointments growing (from 46.6 percent in 2010 to 50 percent in 2012), there is an ever-greater need to ensure that those who should pay, do. Between 2004 and 2011, 24,000 people in the Florence area did not pay for their healthcare services, amounting to a loss of 7 million euro. After a collection campaign via post in which letters requesting payment were sent out several times, the shortfall was reduced to 2 million euro, but it is still a huge burden on the region.
To avoid this situation in the future, the Tuscan Region is instituting various ways to pre-pay for appointments: on the ASL website, www.asf.toscana.it; at the yellow automatic Base B machines in hospitals and ASL centres; by card at Intesa San Paolo and the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze; in post offices; or at Lottomatica machines in newsagents.
To find out if you have any outstanding payments, call 800/471471.
