The effects of Ghana's capitation policy on hospital Under-5 mortality in the Ashanti Region

Objective: The study estimated the capitation policy's effect on the under-5 mortality (U5MR) rate in hospitals in Ashanti Region. Design: We used an interrupted time series design to estimate the impact from secondary data obtained from the DHIMS-2 database. Monthly under-5 deaths and the number of live births per month were extracted and entered into Stata 15.0 for analyses. The U5MR was calculated by dividing the number of live deaths by the number of live births for each of the 60 months of the study. Setting: Health facilities of the Ashanti Region with Data in the DHIMS 2. Intervention: the level and trend of U5MR for 31 months during the Capitation Policy implementation (January 2015 to July 2017) were compared with the level and trend 29 months after the withdrawal of the capitation policy (August 2017 to December 2019). Outcome measures: changes in trend or level of U5MR after the withdrawal of capitation. Main Results: During the capitation policy, monthly U5MR averaged 10.71 +/-2.71 per 1000 live births. It declined to 0.03 deaths per 1000 live births (p=0.65). After the policy withdrawal, the immediate (increase of 0.01 per 1000live births) and the trend (decline of 0.13 deaths per 1000 live births per month) were still not statistically significant. Conclusion: We conclude that the capitation policy did not appear to have influenced under-5 mortality in the Ashanti Region. The design of future healthcare payment models should target quality improvement to reduce under-5 mortalities

Exploring the effects of the withdrawal of the capitation policy on Cesarean rates in public hospitals in Ghana: an interrupted time series analysis

Context and objectives. In Ghana, CS rates have increased by 2% since 2014 even though the World Health Organization has called for the procedure only for medically justifiable cases. Provider payment mechanisms such as capitation have been used to moderate CS rates in some settings. We explored the effects of the withdrawal of the capitation policy on the Cesarean Surgery (CS) rate in public primary care hospitals together with vaginal delivery (VD) and antenatal care for women with 4+ visits (ANC4+) rates. Methods. An interrupted time-series analytical design was used to assess the effects of the withdrawal of capitation on selected variables from the secondary District Health Information Management System (DHIMS 2) of public hospitals between January 2015 and December 2019. Results: The results show that after the policy withdrawal, the trend and level of provision of CS and VD were not significantly altered. Significant declining trends of ANC4+ reversed with significant positive trends after the policy removal. Conclusion. We conclude that the withdrawal of the capitation policy may not have impacted the CS rate significantly in public hospitals. Enhanced capitation payment mechanisms and specific policies aimed at limiting CS are needed to curtail the rise in Ghana.

Novo financiamento para uma nova Atenção Primária à Saúde no Brasil / New funding for a new Brazilian Primary Health Care

Resumo O objetivo desse artigo é apresentar um debate sobre a nova política de financiamento para Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) no Brasil. Para desenvolvimento do método de pagamento foi realizado consulta da literatura nacional e internacional, além do envolvimento de gestores municipais, estaduais e federais da APS. O modelo final proposto é baseado em Capitação ponderada; Pagamento por desempenho; Incentivo para Ações Estratégicas. A capitação é ponderada por vulnerabilidade socioeconômica, aspectos demográficos e ajuste municipal, o pagamento por desempenho composto por um conjunto total de 21 indicadores e incentivos a ações estratégicas foi possível a partir da manutenção de alguns programas específicos. Os resultados das simulações apontaram para um baixo cadastro (90 milhões de brasileiros) para a cobertura estimada atual (148.674.300 milhões de brasileiros). Além disso, demonstraram um incremento imediato de recursos financeiros para 4.200 municípios brasileiros. Observa-se que a proposta do financiamento traz a APS brasileira para o século XXI, aponta para o fortalecimento dos atributos da APS e torna concreto os princípios de universalidade e equidade do Sistema Único de Saúde.

Abstract This paper aims to present a debate on the new Brazilian Primary Health Care (PHC) funding policy. We consulted the national and international literature, and we involved municipal, state, and federal PHC managers to develop the payment method. The proposed final model is based on weighted capitation, payment-for-performance, and incentive for strategic actions. Capitation is weighted by the socioeconomic vulnerability, demographic aspects, and municipal adjustment, the payment-for-performance consists of an entire set of 21 indicators, and incentives for strategic actions were facilitated from the maintenance of some specific programs. The results of the simulations pointed to low registration (90 million Brazilians) for the currently estimated coverage (148,674,300 Brazilians). Moreover, they showed an immediate increase in financial resources for 4,200 Brazilian municipalities. We observed that the funding proposal brings Brazilian PHC into the 21st century, points to the strengthening of PHC attributes, and materializes the principles of universality and equity of the Unified Health System.

Mudanças no financiamento da Atenção Primária à Saúde no Sistema de Saúde Brasileiro: avanço ou retrocesso? / Primary health care financing changes in the Brazilian Health System: advance ou setback?

Resumo Em 2019, o governo brasileiro lançou uma nova política para a Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Chamada de "Previne Brasil", a política modificou o financiamento da APS para municípios. No lugar de habitantes e de equipes de Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF), as transferências intergovernamentais passaram a ser calculadas a partir do número de pessoas cadastradas em serviços de APS e de resultados alcançados sobre um grupo selecionado de indicadores. As mudanças terão um conjunto de impactos para o SUS e para a saúde da população que precisaram ser identificados e monitorados. Neste artigo, discute-se os possíveis efeitos da nova política a partir de uma breve análise de contexto sobre tendências globais de financiamento de sistemas de saúde e de remuneração por serviços de saúde, bem como dos avanços, desafios e ameaças à APS e ao SUS. Com base na análise realizada, entende-se que a nova política parece ter objetivo restritivo, que deve limitar a universalidade, aumentar as distorções no financiamento e induzir a focalização de ações da APS no SUS, contribuindo para a reversão de conquistas históricas na redução das desigualdades na saúde no Brasil.

Abstract In 2019, the Brazilian government launched a new Primary Health Care (PHC) policy for the Unified Health System (SUS). Called "PrevineBrasil", the policy changed the PHC funding for municipalities. Instead of inhabitants and Family Health Strategy (ESF) teams, intergovernmental transfers are calculated from the number of people registered in PHC services and the results achieved in a selected group of indicators. The changes will have a set of impacts for the SUS and the health of the population, which must be observed and monitored. In this paper, possible effects of the new policy are discussed from a brief context analysis of global trends in health systems financing and health services' remuneration models, as well as on the advances, challenges, and threats to PHC and the SUS. Based on the analysis, the new policy seems to have a restrictive purpose, which should limit universality, increase distortions in financing and induce the focus of PHC actions on the SUS, contributing to the reversal of historic achievements in reducing health inequalities in Brazil.

La unidad de pago por capitación: 17 años en el Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud / The capitation payment unit: 17 years in the General Social Security System in Health

OBJETIVO: analizar la evolución de la unidad de pago por capitación (UPC), los métodos y las variables existentes para su definición dentro del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud colombiano, luego de su implementación entre 1995 y el 2011. METODOLOGIA: estudio de tipo observacional descriptivo de corte longitudinal. La población de referencia la constituyeron todos los documentos consultados, entre libros, artículos de revista, bases de datos y presentaciones oficiales, que contuvieran los términos claves. Todos los documentos analizados se clasificaron tomando como referencia una escala de tipo Likert con cinco niveles. RESULTADOS: se encontró que la UPC se valora como elemento indispensable para mantener el equilibrio financiero del sistema. Desde 1995 hasta el 2011, los métodos para definirla fueron variados, pasando por una definición basada solo en el equilibrio financiero y la disponibilidad de recursos hasta configurar un estudio técnico con herramientas estadísticas que la ajustara anualmente. CONCLUSIONES: el origen de la UPC puede atribuirse a la orientación del sistema hacia un esquema de mercado y a la confluencia de tres teorías básicas. Las variaciones de la UPC siempre han referido un valor similar año tras año; por ello, aunque cambie la metodología para su definición, esta seguirá en proporciones iguales si se compara con años anteriores.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the evolution of the Capitation Payment (UPC for its Spanish name "unidad de pago por capitación") as well as the methodologies and variables for defining it that have existed in the Colombian Social Security System in Health since its implementation between 1995 and 2011. METHODOLOGY: An observational, longitudinal descriptive study. The reference population was made up of all the papers reviewed, including books, journal articles, databases, and official presentations containing the key concepts. RESULTS: It was found that the Capitation Payment (UPC) is valued as an essential element to maintain the financial balance of the health system. From 1995 to 2011 there were a number of methodologies for defining this payment. They ranged from a definition based only on the financial balance and the availability of resources, to a technical study using statistical tools to annually adjust the value of the UPC. CONCLUSIONS: The origin of the UPC can be attributed to the system’s orientation toward a market scheme and to the convergence of three basic theories. The variations in the value of the UPC have always resulted in a similar value year after year; this is why even if the methodology for defining it changed, the proportions will be the same when compared to previous years.

A survey on the attitudes of doctors towards health insurance payment in the medical consortium / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Medical consortium is a specific vertical integration model of regional medical resources. To improve medical resources utilization and control the health insurance costs by fee-for-service plans (FFS), capitation fee and diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), it is important to explore the attitudes of doctors towards the different health insurance payment in the medical consortium in Shanghai.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A questionnaire survey was carried out randomly on 50 doctors respectively in 3 different levels medical institutes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The statistical results showed that 90% of doctors in tertiary hospitals had the tendency towards FFS, whereas 78% in secondary hospitals towards DRGs and 84% in community health centers towards capitation fee.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There are some obvious differences on doctors' attitudes towards health insurance payment in 3 different levels hospitals. Thus, it is feasible that health insurance payment should be supposed to the doctors' attitudes using the bundled payments along with the third-party payment as a supervisor within consortium.</p>

Impacto de la selección de los mecanismos de pago en la producción de atención de salud: ¿están en línea con los objetivos sanitarios? / Impact of payment mechanisms on health services production in Chile: are the mechanisms in tune with the health policy objectives?

Este trabajo intenta caracterizar de los problemas que contienen los incentivos, principalmente aquellos contenidos en los mecanismos de transferencia usados en Chile, que no se encuentran a la altura de los desafíos de la actual reforma, por lo que se requiere entrar en una fase de modificación importante. A la vez, se describe evidencia empírica que muestra efectos indeseados sobre la producción de prestaciones a nivel global, desde hace algunos años y desde 2005, con la implementación de la reforma y la introducción de las GES, asociados a los mecanismos de pago. Esto es, disminución general de la actividad del SNSS, aumento de las urgencias y de la compra externa tanto vía MLE como GES. La disminución de la actividad general del SNSS no implica una caída en la productividad ya que se produce un cambio en el case-mix de producción del sistema, incentivado por las GES y sus compromisos asociados. Esto último, puede estar reflejando problemas de acceso en lo no GES. Por último, se reseña de modo general, la propuesta que está siendo trabajada en el sector para modificar los sistemas de transferencia.

The current mechanisms of financial transfer in the Chilean Health Care System imply incentives that are not up to the challenges of the Health Reform initiated in 2002. According to the authors, important modifications are required. We present empirical evidence of the undesired effects of those mechanisms on the overall generation of health services in the last few years. Starting in 2005, the Health Reform introduced Explicit Guarantees (GES) for the Provision of certain services, and these are linked to the mechanisms of payment to the providers. There has been a general decrease in the activities of the National Health Services System, an increase of emergency care and in the purchase of external services via the Explicit Guarantees and also via the Free Choice option included in the public system. The reduction of the general activity of the public system is not matched by a fall in productivity: what we observe is a change in the case mix, which is induced mainly by the Explicit Guarantees scheme and its associated commitments. A reduction of access to non GES care may be under way. We describe the general outline of a proposed change in the financial transfer mechanisms, which is being discussed in the health sector.

Una revisión de las formas de pago de los servicios de salud en el Distrito Capital / A review of the forms of payment for health services in the Capital District / A review of the forms of payment of the services of health in the Cardinal District

Este artículo es una presentación de la evaluación de las formas de pago a través de las cuales se reconocen los servicios prestados a la población pobre no afiliada en el Distrito Capital. Los resultados del presente trabajo se concentran principalmente en el análisis de una de las formas de pago, Pago Global Fijo prospectivo por actividad final, y tan sólo en dos de las actividades finales definidas por la Secretaría. Tales actividades son: la consulta de medicina general electiva y la consulta de medicina especializada electiva. Estas dos actividades representan, entre las dos, el 81,15% de las actividades finales realizadas por la red de hospitales y de ellas la atención médica general representa el 79,70%. El proceso metodológico para toda la evaluación desarrollo seis grande subprocesos: a) revisión bibliográfica, b) un marco conceptual y el diseño del plan de análisis, c) revisión de las especificaciones técnicas para la identificación de los registros de prestaciones de servicios de salud enviados, d) evaluación del sistema actual, e) construcción de escenarios de ajuste, y f) formulación de indicadores para el seguimiento de las formas de pago. A partir de los resultados se encontró que los actuales sistemas de pago del Fondo Financiero Distrital requiere ajustes que permitan un mejor manejo del riesgo financiero y la búsqueda de conciliación de los objetivos de política entre la Secretaría Distrital de Salud y los hospitales que prestan los servicios a la población pobre no cubierta con subsidios a demanda. Antes de pensar en migrar a otro sistema, se hace necesario entender que cada uno de los mecanismos genera diferentes incentivos los cuales se busca controlar a través del sistema de monitoreo y evaluación.

This article presents an evalution of the forms of pay that recognize services rendered to the poor population not housed in the capital district. The results of the present work are concentrated principlally in an analysis of one form of pay: Global fixed prospective pay for finished activities, and only in two of the finished activities as definined by the Secretary. Such work is: general elective medical consultations and specialized elective medical consultations and specialized elective medical consultation. These two activities represent, between the two, some 81.15% of the finished activites done by the network of hospitals, and of these the general medical attention represents 79.70%.This methodological process for a full evaluation creates six large subprocesses: a) bibliographic review, b) a conceptual framework and the design of a plan for analysis, c) review of the technical specifications for the identification of the registries for health services rendered, d) evaluation of the currents system, e) construction of adjustment scenarios, and f) formulation of indicators for the continuation of the forms of pay. From these results it was found that the current payment systems of the District Financial Fund require adjustments that permit better management of financial risk. The search must continue for the conciliationof political objectives between the District Health Secretary and the hospitals that serve the poor population not covered by necessary subsidies. Before thinking of moving to another system, it is necessary to understand that each one of the mechanisms generates different incentives which can be controled through the monitoring and evaluation systems.

Capacitación del ingreso medico para atención del IPAM en una clinica privada: informe final / Qualification of the medico entrance for attention of the IPAM in a private clinica: closing report

El presente trabajo, como parte de la Maestría en Gerencia y Administración en Serviciosd de Salud de la Escuela de Graduados de la Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, denominada "Capitación del Ingreso Médico para Atención del IPAM en una Clínica Privada" tiene como objetico evaluar el impacto sobre la conducta del profesional de la Institución ante un cambio en la modalidad de pago para la atención de los pacientes de la Obra Social Provincial IPAM. Se trabajo sobre el total de prácticas realizadas entre los períodos abril a setiembre del 2003 e iguales meses de 2004, las prácticas se reordenarón según su codificación, a su vez por mes, también divididas segñun si correspondía a códigos ambulatorios o de internación, el análisis de la información se hizo tanto en pesos como en cantidad de códigos facturados

Comportamiento de la contratación por capitación en el régimen subsidiado en una ESE de primer nivel (enero–diciembre, 2004) / Behavior of contracting through capitation in the subsidized regime in a state social company hospital of first level of attention (january-december, 2004)

Se ilustra en el presente artículo la experiencia de una Empresa Social del Estado (ESE) en la implementación de un sistema de gestión de la calidad (SGC), basado y orientado bajo el esquema de la norma internacional ISO 9001 del 2000, así como su metodología y las diferentes etapas recorridas hasta llegar por último a la obtención del certificado de calidad bajo la norma en mención. Igualmente, se da a conocer el mapa de procesos del sistema implementado

La unidad de pago por capitación del sistema de seguridad social en salud, 1996-2005 / The unit of capitation payment of the health social security system, 1996-2005

La unidad de pago por capitación (UPC) es la prima del seguro en el Sistema de Seguridad Social en Salud de Colombia. El análisis de su comportamiento es de suma importancia por sus efectos sobre la capacidad del sistema de lograr sus objetivos en cuanto al estado de salud de la población, el acceso a los servicios y su sostenibilidad financiera. En el caso del régimen contributivo, la UPC ha estado asociada a la dinámica de la compensación entre las cotizaciones y los recursos necesarios para financiar la población a cargo de las EPS, con pocas consideraciones sobre el costo del Plan Obligatorio de Salud (POS). En el caso del régimen subsidiado, se evidencia una tendencia a la igualación de ingresos y gastos, aunque se reconocen presiones sobre la sostenibilidad, resultado de la disminución del ritmo de crecimiento de las fuentes de financiación y el incremento en la demanda por atenciones costosas

Remuneraçäo dos serviços de saúde bucal: formas e impactos na assistência / Different forms of payment systems for dental services and their impact on care

O setor odontológico está atravessando uma fase paradoxal, caracterizada pelo excesso de profissionais no mercado e pelo grande contingente populacional carente de tratamentos odontológicos. Com isso, há a necessidade crescente de serem aprimoradas habilidades gerenciais a fim de possibilitar a melhor organizaçäo do setor. Nesse contexto, o estudo das várias formas de remuneraçäo dos serviços de saúde bucal assume papel relevante. Este artigo aborda duas importantes formas de pagamento (taxas por serviço e capitaçäo) aos prestadores de serviço de saúde bucal, analisando impactos e conseqüências para o sistema de assistência odontológica

Algunas relaciones entre las finanzas, los sistemas de pago y la prestación de servicios, en hospitales de la Secretaria Distrital de Salud de Bogota / Some relationships between finances, payment systems, and provision of health services in hospitals of the Bogota District Health Service

Los hospitales públicos ubicados en el Sur Occidente de bogotá recibieron sus recursos en el periodo 1996-2000, principalmente por la atención a la población sin capacidad de pago, afiliada al régimen subsidiado o del régimen de vinculados. El Fondo Financiero Distrital de Salud fue el pagador de estos servicios. Para los vinculados utilizó tres formas de pago: presupuesto histórico, pago por actividad acompañado de transferencias y pago prospectivo por actividad final, acompañado de convenios de desempeño. en el régimen subsidiado el pao se realizó a través de una administradora, en dos formas preponderantes: la capitación para actividades del primer nivel de atención, que presenta una tendencia a reducirse, y el pago por eventos que ha pasado de conjuntos a actividades individuales en los tres niveles de atención. No se encontraron relaciones claras entre las formas de pago, de un lado, y de otro lado, la prestación de servicios y la financiación hospitalaria. Se encontró que los cambios en las formas de pago introducidos en 1999 detuvieron el crecimiento del ingreso de los hospitales, redujeron de manera sensible la inversión y, aunque los pagos de nómina permanecieron relativamente constantes, la proporción de los mismos frente al gasto general se incrementó. Estas reducciones no se reflejaron en la prestación de servicios que ha mostrado incrementos continuos y constantes. En Bogotá la denominada crisis hospitalaria puede ser un efecto de las dificultades de los pagadores y de las tarifas, antes que de los hospitales.

Implementing the universal health coverage: which source of information is more reliable?

The implementation of universal health coverage needs accurate data on the distribution of health benefit coverage, particularly the uninsured. The national surveys and routine reports are two important sources of information ready for use. This study shows the validation of data from two sources. The data from national household surveys on the medical welfare, the health card and the social security schemes were validated with the routine report data of the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the Social Security Office (SSO) by provinces. There were considerable differences between these data sets. The national survey data gave a 1.5 times higher estimate than the report data of the MOPH and the SSO. Financial implications of using inaccurate data to implement the universal health coverage could be huge, depending on the capitation rate.