Implantação da gestão de custos hospitalares: estudo dos desafios enfrentados e das estratégias implementadas pelo ministério da saúde, pela secretaria de estado da saúde e pelos hospitais vinculados ao projeto OtimizaSUS

Abstract

Hospitals play a central role in the context of the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS), given their significant contribution to the provision of medical care and their considerable representation in total healthcare expenditures. Addressing issues related to the financing and economic-financial sustainability of these institutions requires a solid foundation of information about the costs involved. However, the implementation of effective cost management is recognized as a complex task. In order to tackle this challenge, the State Health Department of Minas Gerais (SES/MG), in alignment with the National Cost Management Program of the Ministry of Health (PNGC), conceived the OtimizaSUS Project, linked to the Valora Minas Hospital Care Policy. This initiative will provide technical and financial support to 145 hospitals located in Minas Gerais, with the purpose of equipping them for the effective implementation of cost management in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health. The overall objective of this study was to analyze the implementation process of the hospital cost management system linked to the OtimizaSUS Project, from the perspective of the Ministry of Health, the Hospital Directorate of the State Health Department of Minas Gerais, and the hospitals affiliated with the first wave. To achieve this objective, the following specific objectives were established: to analyze the objectives and expected benefits, the defined strategies, and the challenges faced by the Hospital Directorate of the State Health Department of Minas Gerais (SES/MG) and the Coordination of the National Cost Management Program (PNGC) of the Ministry of Health in implementing the hospital cost management system, and to analyze the challenges faced with the implementation of the hospital cost management system from the perspective of Directors and Cost Managers of the hospitals in the first wave, as well as the expected benefits and implemented strategies. This study is characterized as a qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive research. The research techniques used include in-depth document analysis and semi-structured individual interviews. The research participants were the Hospital Directorate of SES/MG, the technician from the Ministry of Health responsible for implementing Custody Management in Minas Gerais and the Custody Directors/Managers of the Hospitals of the first wave. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 12 participants. The adopted method was descriptive case study. The sampling technique used in the research was intentional accessibility sampling. The unit of analysis was the implementation process of hospital cost management linked to the OtimizaSUS Project in the hospitals of the first wave. Qualitative data analysis was conducted using content analysis technique, establishing thematic categories: project objectives, expected benefits from the project, strategies used for the implementation of cost management, and challenges faced in the implementation of cost management. This study revealed that, despite all stakeholders recognizing the importance of implementing cost management in hospital units, it was identified as deficient, hindering the improvement of public health and services provided to the population. The study emphasized the need to invest in cost measurement to support strategic decisions and elevate the quality of healthcare services. The Valora Minas Hospital Care Policy was created to prioritize the quality of care and efficiency in hospitals in response to changes in hospital needs. The OtimizaSUS Project, an extension of the Valora Minas policy, aims to enhance hospital administration by implementing cost management and the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) methodology to fill information gaps. The interviewed hospital managers acknowledge the importance of the project and expect it to contribute to equitable reimbursement based on the quality and costs of services. However, there are concerns about the project's continuity with changes in public administration. This study highlights the need for ongoing monitoring to improve public health management and the continuity of the project. The project's proposal allows for tracking and analyzing challenges and limitations throughout the management process, with the goal of building scientific and practical knowledge applicable to healthcare administration within the SUS framework. The technical output of this work was the preparation of a technical report and the presentation of research results to all stakeholders: the Ministry of Health, SES/MG, and Hospitals, with the aim of facilitating the implementation of cost management linked to the OtimizaSUS Project.