Population aging, the increase in noncommunicable chronic diseases morbimortality and healthcare technology incorporation are all challenging the health systems. Case-mix models are being developed in order to present a methodology for resources allocation and also measurement and evaluation of health providers´ performance. Numerous patients´ categorizations accomplishing case-mix measures, either in hospital, ambulatories, special units and other settings have been proposed. In our context, these methodologies are scarce or barely evaluated. This study presents a clinical-functional scale which outlines a case-mix system for complex cases, based on the large experience of a home care service, funded by a health maintenance organization (medical cooperative type) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is a simple, accessible to multiple healthcare specialties and applicable to care modalities for elderly and those suffering incapacitating diseases.
Aging population; Classification; Disabled health; Health of the elderly