Health workers and care providers in northern Italy are outraged by regional budget limits which they say have cut into payments despite a surge in work during the coronavirus emergency. "When I received the message from Bergamo health services, I started crying," said Maura Zucchelli, a partner in Itineris, a private contractor that provides home care support in the area near the Lombardy town of Bergamo. 

"Basically they told us, in the first quarter you've gone over budget so we're not paying you." Lombardy regional authorities did not respond to requests for comment. Under normal budget rules, when private providers exceed a fixed budget, Lombardy authorities reduce funding to 40%. Once the budget excess goes beyond 6%, they stop funding altogether.