"The premier signed the new essential levels of assistance (Lea) and the nomenclature of prostheses: a historic step for Italian healthcare". Thus, in a tweet, the Minister of Health Beatrice Lorenzin announces the signature of Paolo Gentiloni to the provision on the new Lea.
(… continue on ANSA of 13/01/2017)
Reform of essential levels of assistance: 110 new rare diseases
"The premier signed the new essential levels of assistance (Lea) and the nomenclature of prostheses: a historic step for Italian healthcare". Thus, in a tweet, the Minister of Health Beatrice Lorenzin announces the signature of Paolo Gentiloni to the provision on the new Lea. This is a reform that has been awaited for 15 years.
New chronic diseases
More than 110 new diseases affecting between 450,000 and 600,000 Italians are expected to be included in the list of rare diseases. These include sarcoidiosis, progressive systemic sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis. The list of chronic diseases extends with celiac disease and Down syndrome. Furthermore, with the revision of the list of chronic diseases, 6 new diseases are introduced, including kidney diseases and chronic osteomyelitis.
Heterologous fertilization
From heterologous fertilization (until now they were provided only in hospitalization) to therapies against endometriosis, from new vaccines to hadrontherapy (advanced form of radiotherapy for the treatment of brain cancer). These other innovations to which are added the redefinition and updating of the lists of rare and chronic and disabling diseases.
Genetic counseling and vaccines
Genetic counseling and enteroscopy with an ingestible microchamber were also introduced (gastroscopy is done by ingesting a pill containing a microchamber). On the subject of vaccines, the Lea now include the anti-papillomavirus and the anti-pneumococcus. There is prosthetic assistance, which also includes advanced technology artificial limbs.
What are Leas and how are they "measured"
The Lea (Essential Levels of Assistance) are the benefits and services that the national health service must guarantee to all citizens, with public resources, free of charge or upon payment of a participation fee (ticket). To monitor the disbursement of the Lea, in conditions of appropriateness and efficiency and compatibly with the available resources, a Standing Committee was set up at the Ministry of Health for the verification of the disbursement of the essential levels of assistance.
The work of the Standing Committee
Every year, the Committee prepares a questionnaire to evaluate the achievement of obligations. is the so-called "Lea Grid", based on 31 indicators (from hospital care to waiting lists, from control of pharmaceutical expenditure to medical devices) grouped into three main areas: collective health care in living and working environments (vaccinations, screening, prevention in the workplace, food protection, veterinary health, etc.).
Here comes the indicator on lifestyles
Then there is district assistance (pharmaceutical assistance, specialist assistance and outpatient diagnostics, home services for the elderly and seriously ill, consultants, residential and semi-residential structures). Added to this is hospital assistance, evaluated on the basis of the hospitalization rate and on the basis of a series of appropriateness indicators. This year, a new indicator on lifestyles (obesity, smoking) was added.
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