Healthcare price increases underway: over 600 services 5,8% more expensive

New maximum reimbursement rates for over 600 services provided on behalf of the National Health Service go into effect today, Monday, September 21, with an average increase of 5,8% on patient fees.
The so-called "tariff decree," approved by the State-Regions Conference, updates a total of 1.063 items: 448 outpatient specialist services—visits and diagnostic tests—and 222 codes from the prosthetic care nomenclature.

The increases that weigh the most

The most affected fees concern diagnostics: a fine-needle breast aspiration goes from €31,25 to €36,50, the first cardiology visit with an electrocardiogram from €33,60 to €38, while the first basic specialist visit—endocrinology, gynecology, or orthopedics—goes up from €25 to €26.

Looking at the sectors, the most significant increases concern vascular diagnostics (+52,5%), biopsy (+16,8%), electromyography (+13,3%) and blood sampling (+12,8%).

“Geopolitical tensions risk spilling over onto families”

The Codici association criticizes the measure, interpreting the increases in light of the international context. "Ongoing conflicts around the world are putting pressure on the entire cost chain of public healthcare: from energy to raw materials, to medical devices and prosthetics, many of which depend on international supplies subject to price increases and instability," says Ivano Giacomelli, national secretary of Codici.

"The risk is that geopolitical tensions will once again be unleashed on citizens' pockets. A fee increase isn't enough to compensate for the structural difficulties of the National Health Service, which is showing obvious cracks in waiting lists, staff shortages, and regional disparities in access to care. Paying more doesn't automatically mean receiving better care."

According to Giacomelli, in too many regions, wait times for specialist appointments are measured in months, and those who can't wait are forced to turn to private providers, adding to the cost of public healthcare. "We urge institutions to back up any rate changes with real investments in waiting times, staffing, and prevention, protecting public healthcare from the indirect effects of international instability. Otherwise, citizens will pay more for a service they can't even afford to use."

What remains unchanged and who does not pay

Most of the most common services, the association specifies, remain unchanged. Two elements also mitigate the impact: the cap of €36,15 per prescription and the total exemption from increases for those exempt due to income, illness, disability, and unemployment, as well as for pregnant women and those accessing screening programs.

However, the underlying criticism remains: "This is not the way to improve the National Health Service and guarantee citizens effective and timely healthcare, especially at a time when international tensions are already weighing on the cost of living," Giacomelli concludes.
Codici will continue to monitor the impact of the measure on families and to collect reports from citizens, by calling 06 5571996, via WhatsApp at 375 7793480 or by emailing segreteria.sportello@codici.org.