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Italy updates Essential Levels of Assistance with 800 new healthcare services
Italy has updated its Essential Levels of Assistance (Lea), the set of services guaranteed by the National Health Service, introducing approximately 800 new services, tests, and therapies. This update, published in the Official Gazette, marks the first major revision in ten years.
Key additions include expanded newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and eight other rare metabolic diseases. The update also establishes a national program for the screening and surveillance of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants to prevent breast and ovarian cancers. In oncology, new tests have been introduced to identify 223 mutations across 22 solid and hematological tumors, facilitating personalized medicine.
For women, the update includes non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) and services for physiological pregnancy monitoring. Additionally, new ticket exemptions have been granted for conditions including eating disorders, fibromyalgia, asthma, and diabetes. For patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, exemption services now include fecal calprotectin and intestinal ultrasounds.
While health organizations and officials have welcomed the update, medical professionals and unions have raised concerns regarding the practical implementation. They emphasize the need for adequate funding, sufficient medical personnel, and regional coordination to ensure these services are accessible uniformly across Italy, preventing disparities between northern and southern regions.
Entities
Fossc · Francesco Cognetti · Gimbe · Italian Ministry of Health · Italian National Health Service · Italy · M. I. Cro. Italia ODV · Ministry of Health · Orazio Schillaci · RAREvolution · Servizio Sanitario Nazionale
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Exemption services for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have been expanded to include fecal calprotectin and intestinal ultrasounds. www.gravinalife.it
- [● 5 SOURCES] Newborn screening is being extended to eight additional rare and metabolic diseases. www.laleggepertutti.it · www.huffingtonpost.it · agenparl.eu · www.ekuonews.it · quisalute.online
- [● 4 SOURCES] A national program has been established for screening and surveillance of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants. www.laleggepertutti.it · agenparl.eu · quisalute.online · www.ekuonews.it
- [● 8 SOURCES] New oncology tests have been included to research 223 mutations across 22 solid and hematological tumors. www.ilfattonisseno.it · lamilano.it · quotidianodibari.it · www.redazionenews.it · www.codirp.it · +1 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The update includes national newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). www.laleggepertutti.it · www.huffingtonpost.it · agenparl.eu · quisalute.online · www.ekuonews.it
- [● 2 SOURCES] The update includes non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) and services for physiological pregnancy monitoring. agenparl.eu · quisalute.online
- [○ 1 SOURCE] New ticket exemptions are provided for eating disorders, fibromyalgia, asthma, and diabetes. www.laleggepertutti.it
- [● 7 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health has updated the Essential Levels of Assistance (Lea) to include approximately 800 new services, tests, and therapies. www.laleggepertutti.it · www.huffingtonpost.it · agenparl.eu · quisalute.online · www.codirp.it · +2 more