O futuro do SUS: impactos das reformas neoliberais na saúde pública - austeridade versus universalidade / The future of the SUS: impacts of neoliberal reforms on public health - austerity versus universality

RESUMO O ensaio analisa os efeitos da política de austeridade sobre o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Dados orçamentários e fiscais indicam que o Novo Regime Fiscal (NRF), criado pela Emenda Constitucional nº 95/2016 (EC 95), transformou o subfinanciamento crônico da saúde em desfinanciamento do SUS. Ademais, o NRF altera as relações entre as dimensões fiscal e social, uma vez que a despesa passa a ser avaliada a partir da pressão que exerce sobre o teto. Particularmente, o sistema de saúde universal se torna um excesso em relação ao limite estabelecido pela EC 95, pois os direitos sociais passam a aparecer como objeto de ajuste à fronteira fiscal, a partir da qual o gasto é tomado como irregular. Será mostrado que tais mudanças já implicam redução do orçamento disponível de saúde.

ABSTRACT The essay analyzes the effects of the austerity policy on the Unified Health System (SUS). Budgetary and fiscal data indicate that the New Tax Regime (NTR), created by Constitutional Amendment nº 95/2016 (CA 95), has transformed chronic underfunding into reduction of the health budget. In addition, the NTR alters the relations between the fiscal and social dimensions, since the expense is now evaluated from the pressure exerted on the cap. Particularly, the universal health care system becomes an excess in relation to the limit established by CA 95, since social rights begin to appear as an object of adjustment to the fiscal frontier, from which the expense is taken as irregular. The article shows that such changes already imply reduction of the available health budget.

Perfil das ações judiciais em assistência à saúde com bloqueio de verbas públicas no Estado de Santa Catarina / Profile of lawsuits in health care with blockade of public funds in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil / Perfil de los juicios en salud con bloqueo de fondos públicos en el estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Objetivo: analisar o perfil situacional dos bloqueios de valores decorrentes do descumprimento de decisões judiciais em assistência à saúde, no Estado de Santa Catarina. Métodos: foram considerados os processos com determinação de bloqueio nas contas do Estado de Santa Catarina, nos meses de dezembro de 2015 e dezembro de 2016, em que os autores requereram medicamentos, insumos e nutrição. Resultados: a maioria das ações são ajuizadas individualmente e por escritórios de advocacia particulares. Medicamentos configuraram como o objeto mais solicitado, prescritos em sua maioria pelo nome comercial e não padronizados em listas oficiais em mais de 70% dos casos. Em 2015, o gasto mensal foi de R$ 135.549,39, e, caso o Estado tivesse realizado a aquisição, o gasto mensal seria de R$ 82.016,29. Em dezembro de 2016, o gasto com bloqueio foi de R$ 833.634,88, enquanto por meio de compra administrativa seria de R$ 447.357,68. Observou-se um crescimento de 858,82% dos gastos com bloqueios, do ano de 2015 para 2016. Conclusões: os resultados obtidos podem contribuir para o melhor planejamento do cumprimento das decisões judiciais em saúde, evitando que não onerem ainda mais os cofres públicos e prejudiquem o orçamento da saúde pública.

Objective: to analyze the situational profile of value blocks resulting from non-compliance with health care court decisions in the State of Santa Catarina. Methods: re considered the processes with determination of blockage in the accounts of the State of Santa Catarina, in December 2015 and December 2016, in which the authors requested drugs, inputs and nutrition. Results: most actions are filed individually and by private law firms. Medicines were the most requested object, mostly prescribed by trade name and not standardized on official lists in more than 70% of cases. In 2015, the monthly expense was R$ 135,549.39, and if the State had made the acquisition, the monthly expense would be R$ 82,016.29. In December 2016, the cost of blocking was R $ 833,634.88, while through administrative purchase would be R $ 447,357.68. There was a growth of 858.82% in spending on blockages, from 2015 to 2016. Conclusions: the results obtained can contribute to better planning compliance with health court decisions, avoiding that they do not burden the public coffers even more and undermine the public health budget.

Objetivo: analizar el perfil situacional de los bloques de valor resultantes del incumplimiento de las decisiones de los tribunales de atención médica en el Estado de Santa Catarina. Métodos: Consideramos los procesos con determinación de bloqueo en las cuentas del Estado de Santa Catarina, en diciembre de 2015 y diciembre de 2016, en los que los autores solicitaron medicamentos, insumos y nutrición. Resultados: la mayoría de las demandas se presentan individualmente y por firmas de abogados privadas. Las drogas fueron el objeto más solicitado, en su mayoría recetados por nombre comercial y no estandarizados en las listas oficiales en más del 70% de los casos. En 2015, el gasto mensual fue de R $ 135.549,39, y si el Estado hubiera realizado la adquisición, el gasto mensual sería de R $ 82.016,29. En diciembre de 2016, el costo del bloqueo fue de R $ 833,634.88, mientras que a través de la compra administrativa sería de R $ 447,357.68. Hubo un crecimiento del 858.82% en el gasto en bloqueos, de 2015 a 2016. Conclusiones: los resultados obtenidos pueden contribuir a una mejor planificación del cumplimiento de las decisiones judiciales en salud, evitando que no carguen aún más las arcas públicas y socavaren el presupuesto de salud pública.

The share of people with high medical costs increased prior to implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

The percentage of Americans with high medical cost burdens--those who spend more than 10 percent of their family income on out-of-pocket expenses for health care--increased to 19.2 percent in 2011, after having stabilized at 18.2 percent during the Great Recession of 2007-09. The increase was driven primarily by growth in premium expenses in 2009-11 for people with employer-sponsored coverage. Out-of-pocket spending on health services, especially for prescription drugs, continued to decrease between 2007-09 and 2011. Medical cost burdens were highest for income groups most likely to benefit from the Affordable Care Act's coverage expansions, including people with private insurance coverage. Those who purchased nongroup coverage before the implementation of the health insurance Marketplaces in 2014 spent an especially high proportion of their income on health care, and over half of these people will qualify for premium subsidies in the Marketplaces. Federal subsidies will substantially reduce medical cost burdens for many people who do not obtain health insurance through their employers.

British Columbia hospitals: examination and assessment of payment reform (B-CHeaPR).

BACKGROUND: Accounting for 36% of public spending on health care in Canada, hospitals are a major target for cost reductions through various efficiency initiatives. Some provinces are considering payment reform as a vehicle to achieve this goal. With few exceptions, Canadian provinces have generally relied on global and line-item budgets to contain hospital costs. There is growing interest amongst policy-makers for using activity based funding (ABF) as means of creating financial incentives for hospitals to increase the 'volume' of care, reduce cost, discourage unnecessary activity, and encourage competition. British Columbia (B.C.) is the first province in Canada to implement ABF for partial reimbursement of acute hospitalization. To date, there have been no formal examinations of the effects of ABF policies in Canada. This study proposal addresses two research questions designed to determine whether ABF policies affect health system costs, access and hospital quality. The first question examines the impact of the hospital funding policy change on internal hospital activity based on expenditures and quality. The second question examines the impact of the change on non-hospital care, including readmission rates, amount of home care provided, and physician expenditures. METHODS/DESIGN: A longitudinal study design will be used, incorporating comprehensive population-based datasets of all B.C. residents; hospital, continuing care and physician services datasets will also be used. Data will be linked across sources using anonymized linking variables. Analytic datasets will be created for the period between 2005/2006 and 2012/2013. DISCUSSION: With Canadian hospitals unaccustomed to detailed scrutiny of what services are provided, to whom, and with what results, the move toward ABF is significant. This proposed study will provide evidence on the impacts of ABF, including changes in the type, volume, cost, and quality of services provided. Policy- and decision-makers in B.C. and elsewhere in Canada will be able to use this evidence as a basis for policy adaptations and modifications. The significance of this proposed study derives from the fact that the change in hospital funding policy has the potential to affect health system costs, residents' access to care and care quality.