An analysis of services provided to health plan customers, carried out by the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), from 2019 to 2023, recorded an increase in customers aged up to 15 years old being treated by occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and physiotherapists. Procedures and expenses for services in these four categories also increased.
In 2023, 9.41% of all beneficiaries in this age group received at least one of the services covered by the study. In 2019, this figure was 5.24%. This portion of clients represents approximately 20% of all beneficiaries in the sector.
The ANS analysis assessed the progress of ongoing treatments, which are generally indicated for patients with some type of neurodevelopmental disorder. The data relate to consultations and sessions with occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and physiotherapists.
According to the study, 89% of the services provided by occupational therapists and 83% of the sessions with speech therapists were provided to clients up to 14 years of age. As for the services provided by psychologists (72%) and physiotherapists (95%), the majority were for the population over 15 years of age.
The survey also showed that the most significant increase in the number of beneficiaries served in the four areas studied was among beneficiaries served by occupational therapists, a professional who has been increasingly in demand in the ongoing treatment of patients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other neurodevelopmental disorders.
“This area showed growth of 217% compared to 2019. An increase of 112% in beneficiaries served by psychologists was observed in the same period, and 82% by speech therapists”, the research pointed out.
Another fact found was that in the last 5 years there was a 349% increase in the total number of consultations/sessions with occupational therapists for the age group up to 15 years old in supplementary health.
Consultations
Since January 2019, most beneficiaries served by the four professional categories have had up to three consultations and/or sessions per week. The average number of consultations and sessions per beneficiary served has increased for all professionals. However, once again, the most significant increase was for occupational therapy.
For the ANS, the results of the research may be related to the increase in diagnoses of patients with neurodevelopmental disorders in Brazil in the same period, “as indicated by data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the most recent Brazilian School Census, released in February by the National Institute of Studies and Educational Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP)”.
According to the ANS, neurodevelopmental disorders are described in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published in May 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association. Included in this category are communication and learning disorders, intellectual disabilities, motor dysfunctions, attention deficit and hyperactivity, and ASD.
Although the focus of the work was on serving beneficiaries up to the age of 15, as a way of expanding the analysis, the work also shows results for other age groups.
In preparing the study, information sent to ANS by operators through the Supplementary Health Information Exchange (TISS) standard was taken into account, based on consultations with health professionals who may be indicated for the continued treatment of patients with some neurodevelopmental disorder.
“As the ANS does not have information on the classification of beneficiaries’ illnesses in its databases, due to a court decision, the alternative was to select a group of 38 procedures, including consultations and sessions in the areas of speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and physiotherapy, which are used for the treatment and monitoring of patients diagnosed with some type of neurodevelopmental disorder,” the agency reported.
According to the director of Standards and Product Qualification at ANS, Alexandre Fioranelli, the intention of the work carried out by ANS is to qualify the debate on improving healthcare for patients with neurodevelopmental disorders in supplementary healthcare.
“When we have a more concrete scenario and can look at it, we have a better understanding of the evolution of services that can be used to treat these patients, and this allows us to think about the needs of beneficiaries, the quality of care, health management and a series of strategies to improve regulation and the services delivered by operators and providers,” explains the director.
More details about the survey are available in the thematic section of the dynamic panel Mapa Assistencial da Saúde Suplementar, at ANS portal.
