Telemedicine is no longer an experiment. From 2026, with the Budget Law allocating EUR 20 million to AGENAS to coordinate remote services, and with uniform protocols approved by the State-Regions Conference, Italy finally has an operational regulatory framework.[1] For Italian physicians, this means three concrete things: precise obligations, funded tools, and unchanged liability. A poorly documented televisit on a non-certified platform is no longer just a clinical risk — it is a legal one.
Article 85 of the 2026 Budget Law is the turning point.[1] AGENAS — designated as the national agency for digital health — receives EUR 20 million with a precise mandate:
The critical point: the platform
A physician using Zoom, WhatsApp or Teams for televisits is not automatically in violation — but faces significant risks. These platforms do not produce structured clinical documentation, do not guarantee GDPR Art. 9 compliance for health data, and do not integrate with the FSE. In the event of a dispute, the physician cannot demonstrate that the televisit was conducted according to certified protocols. The AGENAS decree will define the list of compliant platforms by end 2026.
A televisit generates clinical documentation — and that documentation must be structured, uploaded to the FSE within five days, digitally signed. This is exactly the type of workflow where dedicated medical AI makes a difference.
The limit of telemedicine is not technological — it is documentary. A physician managing 10 televisits per day without automatic documentation tools produces the same bureaucratic burden as 10 in-person visits. With AI, that burden drops by 80%.
See also our articles on automatic SOAP notes, on FSE 2.0 and on GDPR and medical AI in Italy.
Does a televisit have the same legal value as an in-person visit?
Yes, if performed on a certified platform with verified patient identification (SPID, CIE or identity document). The State-Regions Conference has established that a televisit, carried out according to defined protocols, is clinically and legally equivalent to an in-person visit. The physician can make a diagnosis, prescribe therapies and issue certificates. Clinical liability remains unchanged. The report must be uploaded to the FSE within 5 days, as for any service.
Which platform can a physician use for a televisit?
Not just any platform. Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime and consumer video call apps are not compliant for certified telemedicine: they do not guarantee end-to-end encryption for health data, do not produce structured clinical documentation, and providers are often subject to the American CLOUD Act. The physician must use a platform with certified E2E encryption, EU or adequacy zone hosting, signed DPA with the provider, and documentary output integrable into the FSE.
Can a general practitioner conduct televisits?
Yes, and televisits are particularly suited for: renewal of stabilised chronic therapies, post-discharge follow-up, management of already available test results, counselling and psychological support, monitoring of patients with chronic conditions. They are not suitable for: first visits where physical examination is needed, emergency situations, objective examinations requiring physical contact, or diagnostic procedures. The GP can evaluate case by case when a televisit is clinically appropriate.
How is a televisit documented for the FSE?
A televisit generates a 'telemedicine report' — a structured clinical document including: session identifier, verified patient data, reason for visit, history, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan. This document must be produced in correct clinical format (HL7 CDA2 or equivalent), digitally signed by the physician, and transmitted to the patient's FSE within 5 days. Dedicated medical AI tools can automatically generate the draft telemedicine report from the session transcript.
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