ABSTRACT
Reference prices have been introduced in Italy starting from the second half of 2012 with the aim of containing public spending. Reference prices have regulatory value (they represent a sort of price ceiling) aimed at reducing public spending on public contracts related to the purchase of goods and services in the health sector. Starting from 2012, the Authority has therefore proceeded to determine and publish on its own website the reference prices in the health sector relating to multiple product categories, for the hospital laundry, catering and cleaning services, as well as for the supply of some medical devices and drugs. The availability of this informative patrimony also makes it possible to identify, through the construction of one or more ranking systems, those contractors that could be the subject of a possible preliminary investigation. The methodological innovation aimed at homogenizing the characteristics of a service by its complex and heterogeneous nature has therefore resulted in a positive contribution.
