[2] Health services in Italy were initially managed by casse mutualistiche (mutual funds) dating back to the establishment of INAM in 1943, which was officially recognized by the Italian Republic in 1947.
[4] The law also established the Unità Sanitarie Locali (USL) (Local Health Units) as the primary providers of healthcare services.
They possess organizational, managerial, technical, administrative, financial, and accounting autonomy, functioning as centres for entrepreneurial activities.
502, issued on 30 December 1992, "for the pursuit of their institutional objectives, Local Health Authorities are established as companies with public legal personality and entrepreneurial autonomy".
However, since the beginning of 1993, according to prevailing jurisprudence, Local Health Authorities have been regarded as entities under the jurisdiction of the Italian regions.