[Regulation of access to specialized services in the SUS: a scoping review]

Through a scoping review conducted using the PRISMA-ScR framework, this study sought to identify and analyze the scientific literature on the regulation of access to specialized elective services in the SUS between 2013 and 2022. Searches were performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE and LILACS databases in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and in the SciELO database. A total of 25 publications were identified after applying eligibility criteria and excluding duplicates. To organize and analyze the results, three analytical categories were used: the concept of regulation; regulatory processes and practices; and regulation as a producer of care. The concepts of health regulation identified in the literature are primarily associated with normative acts, with no significant conceptual advances observed over the past decade. The articles describe and discuss tools, work processes, and regulatory practices aimed at promoting comprehensive care and equitable, timely access. However, few studies address the potential of regulatory processes in the actual production of care. The findings point to the need for theoretical developments and the implementation of public policies that advance a conception of regulation as a producer of comprehensive care, capable of overcoming the fragmentation of health systems.