With the arrival of the Simplifications bill, which will officially come into force on 18 December, the way in which doctors will be able to issue the sick certificate will change. One of the most anticipated innovations concerns the possibility of obtaining certification also via televisit, without the need for the worker to physically go to the doctor’s office or request a home visit. The goal is to lighten the load on clinics and speed up procedures for patients, using telemedicine tools.
When will the telecertification start?
Despite the law coming into force in December, telecertification will not be immediately operational. In fact, the rule refers to a subsequent agreement in the State-Regions Conference, which will have to establish the specific cases and methods for the use of televisiting for the purposes of the certificate. Until these indications are defined, the current rules will continue to apply, which provide for the direct verification of the worker’s conditions.
Security and controls against abuse
The provision does not change the system of protections against the issuing of false certificates. Penalties will remain severe for both doctors and workers who attempt to evade the rules, and the validity of remote certifications will be equal to that issued in person. Tax visits will also continue regularly, representing a fundamental control tool to prevent abuse and guarantee the correctness of sickness absences.
Recipes for chronic pathologies up to 12 months
A second innovation introduced by the bill concerns pharmaceutical prescriptions. General practitioners will be able to issue repeatable prescriptions valid for up to 12 months for patients suffering from chronic pathologies, significantly simplifying the treatment process and reducing outpatient visits. Even in this case, the measure will not be active immediately: an implementing decree from the Ministry of Health will be needed, to be issued within 90 days.
How the new recipes will work
Once the administrative process has been completed, the doctor will indicate in the prescription the dosage and the maximum number of packs that can be obtained over the course of the year. The pharmacist will be able to dispense medicines for 30 days of therapy at a time and will communicate the delivery to the attending physician, strengthening collaboration between healthcare professionals. Furthermore, it will be possible to collect the medicines by presenting the hospital discharge documentation or emergency room reports, without waiting for a new prescription from the family doctor.
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