Analysis of payment models applied to federal funding from the perspective of the Brazilian Health System

Objective: This study aims at identifying the payment methods existing in the Unified Health System referring to federal transfers to Primary Health Care (PHC) and Specialized Health Care. Methods: A quantitative and analytical study was carried out, developed in three stages: survey of all types of transfers from the Union; classification of each transfer category according to the types of payment methods and measurement of the participation of each payment methods, according to the financing components analyzed, in relation to the net values transferred. Results: Federal transfers were classified into seven payment methods. For PHC, in 2020, approximately R$ 21.7 billion was calculated, including resources destined for the pandemic, and R$ 20.9 billion without considering resources to face the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 50% of the amounts used were classified as capitation, in both cases. For specialized health care, in 2019, around R$ 48.5 billion were calculated, and in 2020 more than R$ 49.2 billion. For the two years, more than 70% of the funds were allocated to fee for service. Conclusions: This study allowed for an expansion in knowledge about the allocation of resources referring to transfers from the Union to states, the Federal District and municipalities. As the payment methods are related to productivity, access and quality of the health service, knowing and identifying the most appropriate payment methods for each situation contributes to the achievement of the goals and to the mitigation of eventual losses of efficiency in the healthcare systems.

Análise dos modelos de pagamento aplicados ao financiamento federal na perspectiva do Sistema Único de Saúde / Analysis of payment models applied to federal funding from the perspective of the Brazilian Health System

Objetivo: Este estudo tem por objetivo identificar os modelos de pagamento existentes no Sistema Único de Saúde referentes aos repasses federais para a Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) e a Atenção Especializada à Saúde. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo quantitativo e analítico, desenvolvido em três etapas: levantamento de todos os tipos de repasse da União; classificação de cada categoria de repasse segundo os tipos de modelos de pagamentos; e mensuração da participação de cada modelo de pagamento, de acordo com os componentes de financiamento analisados, em relação aos valores líquidos repassados. Resultados: Os repasses federais foram classificados em sete modelos de pagamentos. Para a APS, em 2020, foram apurados R$ 21,7 bilhões, aproximadamente, incluindo os recursos destinados para a pandemia, e R$ 20,9 bilhões, sem considerar os recursos para enfrentamento da pandemia de COVID-19. Mais de 50% dos valores empregados foram classificados como capitação, em ambos os casos. Para a Atenção Especializada à Saúde, em 2019, foram computados em torno de R$ 48,5 bilhões e, em 2020, acima de R$ 49,2 bilhões. Para os dois anos, mais de 70% dos recursos foram destinados a pagamentos por procedimento. Conclusões: Este estudo permitiu a ampliação do conhecimento sobre a alocação dos recursos referentes aos repasses da União para estados, Distrito Federal e municípios. Como os modelos de pagamentos estão relacionados com a produtividade, acesso e qualidade do serviço de saúde, conhecer as formas de pagamento e identificar a mais adequada para cada situação contribui para o alcance das metas e para a mitigação de eventuais perdas de eficiência nos sistemas de saúde.

Objective: This study aims at identifying the payment methods existing in the Unified Health System referring to federal transfers to Primary Health Care (PHC) and Specialized Health Care. Methods: A quantitative and analytical study was carried out, developed in three stages: survey of all types of transfers from the Union; classification of each transfer category according to the types of payment methods and measurement of the participation of each payment methods, according to the financing components analyzed, in relation to the net values transferred. Results: Federal transfers were classified into seven payment methods. For PHC, in 2020, approximately R$ 21.7 billion was calculated, including resources destined for the pandemic, and R$ 20.9 billion without considering resources to face the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 50% of the amounts used were classified as capitation, in both cases. For specialized health care, in 2019, around R$ 48.5 billion were calculated, and in 2020 more than R$ 49.2 billion. For the two years, more than 70% of the funds were allocated to fee for service. Conclusions: This study allowed for an expansion in knowledge about the allocation of resources referring to transfers from the Union to states, the Federal District and municipalities. As the payment methods are related to productivity, access and quality of the health service, knowing and identifying the most appropriate payment methods for each situation contributes to the achievement of the goals and to the mitigation of eventual losses of efficiency in the healthcare systems.

Inter- and intra-host viral diversity in a large seasonal DENV2 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: High genetic diversity at both inter- and intra-host level are hallmarks of RNA viruses due to the error-prone nature of their genome replication. Several groups have evaluated the extent of viral variability using different RNA virus deep sequencing methods. Although much of this effort has been dedicated to pathogens that cause chronic infections in humans, few studies investigated arthropod-borne, acute viral infections. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We deep sequenced the complete genome of ten DENV2 isolates from representative classical and severe cases sampled in a large outbreak in Brazil using two different approaches. Analysis of the consensus genomes confirmed the larger extent of the 2010 epidemic in comparison to a previous epidemic caused by the same viruses in another city two years before (genetic distance = 0.002 and 0.0008 respectively). Analysis of viral populations within the host revealed a high level of conservation. After excluding homopolymer regions of 454/Roche generated sequences, we found 10 to 44 variable sites per genome population at a frequency of >1%, resulting in very low intra-host genetic diversity. While up to 60% of all variable sites at intra-host level were non-synonymous changes, only 10% of inter-host variability resulted from non-synonymous mutations, indicative of purifying selection at the population level. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Despite the error-prone nature of RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase, dengue viruses maintain low levels of intra-host variability.