Performance payment to the Primary Care Teams: analysis from the PMAQ-AB cycles

Abstract

The objective of the study is to describe the transfer of the PMAQ resource to the Primary Care teams, as a pay-for-performance strategy, in the municipalities of Paraíba. This is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach. The sample was formed by 219 managers. The results showed that the majority had the position of health secretary. In the 3 evaluation cycles, the adoption of the municipal law as normative stands out, as well as the use of external evaluation as a criterion for transfer. Over the course of the cycles, more actors received resources in addition to the minimum team. The transfer was made every six months and annually, with around 40% to 50% of the amount for the teams and the rest invested in improving working conditions. It is concluded that the resources of the PMAQ-AB represented an important strategy of payment for performance in most municipalities of Paraíba.