Descriptive analysis of spending on hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions

Abstract Background Funding is a problem present throughout the history of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Health spending in Brazil have always been insufficient to ensure the principles of SUS. Objective To analyze spending on hospitalizations due to ambulatory care for sensitive conditions (HACSC) and their impact on health expenditures. Method This study analyzed spending on health in São Leopoldo, RS, between 2003 and 2012. It is an ecological study using data available from the Informatics Department of Brazil’s National Unified Health System through the Hospital Information System and the Information System of Public Health Budget. Results São Leopoldo’s total health expenditure increased 70.91% in the period, growing 58.52% in per capita spending, and only 21.75% in expenses for primary health care (PHC). Spending on HACSC increased 16.30% and total spending with hospitalization decreased 3.54%. Compared to total health expenditure, the spending on HACSC represented 2.57%, in 2003, and 1.75%, in 2012. Comparing to expenses for PHC, the average spending on HACSC represented 19.43% of expenses on PHC. Conclusion There was an increase in per capita spending on health, but still insufficient. The amounts spent on the ICSAP could represent a significant savings to the health system.