title: [Access to medium and high-complexity procedures in the Brazilian Unified National Health System: a matter of judicialization].
abstract: Lawsuits in healthcare have increased exponentially in Brazil. However, the judicialization of healthcare procedures has not been sufficiently discussed, although such a discussion could broaden the scope of healthcare assessment. This study aimed to analyze the use of court action to ensure access to outpatient and hospital procedures from 1999 to 2009 in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This was a retrospective descriptive study. Procedures were classified according to the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) and the Table on Unified Terminology for Private Healthcare. Coverage by the SUS was 93.5%. The largest proportions of beneficiaries of such lawsuits lived in the Central and Western regions of the country (26.4% and 24%, respectively). The most common procedures involved in such cases were clinical admissions, admission to intensive care, and cardiovascular surgery. The study highlights the emerging need for access to medium and high-complexity procedures through extensive rules for coverage.
authors.forename: Fernanda de Freitas Castro
authors.initials: Fde F
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Mariângela Leal
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cherchiglia
authors.forename: Carlos Dalton
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Viviane Cristina dos
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Francisco de Assis
authors.initials: Fde A
authors.lastname: Acurcio
authors.forename: Eli Iola Gurgel
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000145:classification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult