Italian court clarifies RSA fee coverage for Alzheimer's patients

A ruling by the Court of Belluno has reaffirmed legal precedents regarding the payment of fees for Residential Care Facilities (RSA) for patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease. According to Italian jurisprudence, the National Health Service (SSN) is responsible for covering the full cost of RSA fees if the patient requires continuous medical care that is inseparable from their assistance needs.

The court clarified that the obligation for the SSN to cover these costs is not determined solely by a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or the patient's lack of self-sufficiency. Instead, it depends on a case-by-case assessment to determine if medical services are inextricably linked to care services. The burden of proof lies with the claimant, who must provide clinical and assistance documentation to demonstrate this necessity.