Legislation

Italian laws and measures for people with hearing problems.

Requirements to qualify for the free supply of hearing aid and subsidies

The provision of prosthetic aids is governed by the "Nomenclatore Tariffario", instrument set up by the article No 26 of law 833, 23.12.1978 and shall be issued as a decree of the Ministry of Health, after consultation with the National Health Council.

The "Nomenclatore Tariffario" provides guidelines for correct prosthetic prescription, rates and minimum times for the replacement of the prosthesis.

Current Nomenclatore does not provide minimum thresholds of hearing loss for granting of a hearing aid.

Beneficiaries

In addition to patients with hearing loss over 65 dB in the better ear, the right to supply is granted also to patients with hearing loss below 65 dB if carrying other certified diseases reaching an overall total grade of 1/3 of disability (34%).
In the document for the recognition of the state of disability with equal or greater percentage of 34% must be explicitly expressed the disease, "hearing loss", otherwise, the disabled should be reassessed by the medical committee that will write down on a new record that hearing loss occurred, and this must be done even if the percentage of disability is already higher than 34%.
The disabled with bilateral deafness (absence of any residual hearing by both sides) are not entitled to supply prosthetic.
To speed up the prosthetic supply, medical commission, if the percentage of disability is greater than 34%, may issue a declaration of established invalidity which will avoid unnecessary waiting for the start of the procedure (Article 2 paragraph 1, point C, DM No 332/1999).

Traceability

The patient may choose a more sophisticated device than what provided by the "Nomenclatore" paying just the difference. This includes BTE ear devices with more than 4 adjustments, also being programmable and digital.

Minimum terms of renewal

For hearing aids five years, for the FM / IR and DTS eight years.
For adults the renewal is programmed only once in case of loss or accidental breakage or when a used device is not particularly convenient to be repaired.
The renewal within five years is also possible on the basis of a precise report of the specialist attesting varied rehabilitative needs or changed physical conditions.
For children there are no limitations nor related to the time of renewal nor tied to a particular disability assessment.