Using HIV Surveillance Data to Link People to HIV Medical Care, 5 US States, 2012-2015

Study protocol for data to suppression (D2S): a cluster-randomised, stepped-wedge effectiveness trial of a reporting and capacity-building intervention to improve HIV viral suppression in housing and behavioural health programmes in New York City

INTRODUCTION

With progress in the 'diagnose', 'link' and 'retain' stages of the HIV care continuum, viral suppression (VS) gains increasingly hinge on antiretroviral adherence among people with HIV (PWH) retained in care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that unsuppressed viral load among PWH in care accounts for 20% of onward transmission. HIV intervention strategies include 'data to care' (D2C)-using surveillance to identify out-of-care PWH for follow-up. However, most D2C efforts target care linkage, not antiretroviral adherence, and limit client-level data sharing to medical (versus support-service) providers. Drawing on lessons learnt in D2C and successful local pilots, we designed a 'data-to-suppression' intervention that offers HIV support-service programmes surveillance-based reports listing their virally unsuppressed clients and capacity-building assistance for quality-improvement activities. We aimed to scale and test the intervention in agencies delivering Ryan White HIV/AIDS Programme-funded behavioural health and housing services.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

To estimate intervention effects, this study applies a cross-sectional, stepped-wedge design to the intervention's rollout to 27 agencies randomised within matched pairs to early or delayed implementation. Data from three 12-month periods (pre-implementation, partial implementation and full implementation) will be examined to assess intervention effects on timely VS (within 6 months of a report listing the client as needing follow-up for VS). Based on projected enrolment (n=1619) and a pre-implementation outcome probability of 0.40-0.45, the detectable effect size with 80% power is an OR of 2.12 (relative risk: 1.41-1.46).

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's institutional review board (protocol: 21-036) with a waiver of informed consent. Findings will be disseminated via publications, conferences and meetings including provider-agency representatives.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05140421.

Overcoming Challenges to HIV Medical Care-seeking and Treatment Among Data-to-Care Program Clients in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana

ABSTRACT

Data to Care (D2C) uses US public health surveillance data to identify persons with diagnosed HIV who are not receiving adequate medical care. These persons are linked to care and ancillary social services through personalized outreach. We conducted semistructured interviews with 36 adults with HIV in Louisiana who were engaged for the first time or reengaged back into HIV care through D2C efforts. Before D2C program staff contact, nearly 40% were not contemplating HIV care. Program clients cited barriers to HIV care, including difficulties with appointment scheduling and transportation, health care service and drug costs, low motivation, and competing non-HIV health needs. Thirty-four of the 36 clients said that D2C staff helped them overcome these barriers. Clients also described psychosocial support from D2C staff. After receiving D2C program assistance, more than 90% of clients reported consistently receiving HIV medical care and taking medications. Our findings suggest that D2C staff successfully identified client needs and provided tailored assistance.

Practical and Ethical Concerns in Implementing Enhanced Surveillance Methods to Improve Continuity of HIV Care: Qualitative Expert Stakeholder Study

BACKGROUND

Retention in HIV care is critical to maintaining viral suppression and preventing further transmission, yet less than 50% of people living with HIV in the United States are engaged in care. All US states have a funding mandate to implement Data-to-Care (D2C) programs, which use surveillance data (eg, laboratory, Medicaid billing) to identify out-of-care HIV-positive persons and relink them to treatment.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify and describe practical and ethical considerations that arise in planning for and implementing D2C.

METHODS

Via purposive sampling, we recruited 43 expert stakeholders-including ethicists, privacy experts, researchers, public health personnel, HIV medical providers, legal experts, and community advocates-to participate in audio-recorded semistructured interviews to share their perspectives on D2C. Interview transcripts were analyzed across a priori and inductively derived thematic categories.

RESULTS

Stakeholders reported practical and ethical concerns in seven key domains: permission and consent, government assistance versus overreach, privacy and confidentiality, stigma, HIV exceptionalism, criminalization, and data integrity and sharing.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants expressed a great deal of support for D2C, yet also stressed the role of public trust and transparency in addressing the practical and ethical concerns they identified.

Using HIV Surveillance and Clinic Data to Optimize Data to Care Efforts in Community Health Centers in Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Partnerships for Care Project

BACKGROUND

We describe Data to Care processes of the Massachusetts Partnerships for Care (MA P4C) project and identify factors associated with engagement, retention, and viral suppression outcomes.

METHODS

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and participating community health centers generated lists of patients not in care based on a temporal gap in laboratory results, missed clinic visits, and provider concern regarding engagement. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and community health centers reviewed the lists monthly and identified out-of-care patients in need of linkage or re-engagement.

RESULTS

Between October 2015 and June 2017, of 1418 patients potentially out of care, 83 (5.9%) were confirmed to be out of care. Forty-four of those out of care (53%) received services or were re-engaged in care within 90 days, 45 (54%) were retained in care, and 40 (48%) were virally suppressed. The odds of being re-engaged or retained were lower for patients who were 6 months out-of-care (vs. those newly diagnosed). Patients with an AIDS-defining condition had increased odds of retention and viral suppression. The odds of viral suppression were reduced for patients who reported exposure categories other than men who have sex with men and were younger (30-49 years vs. ≥50 years).

CONCLUSIONS

Although rates of re-engagement, retention, and viral suppression were low, the MA P4C Data to Care procedures provided a means for accurate ascertainment of out-of-care status. Future Data to Care programs should investigate the factors that contribute to disengagement from care.

Data to Care Opportunities: An Evaluation of Persons Living With HIV Reported to Be "Current to Care" Without Current HIV-Related Labs

BACKGROUND

Data to care (D2C) is an effective strategy using HIV surveillance data to link/relink persons living with HIV into medical care. However, some appearing to be not in care (NIC) report being in care (persons "current to care").

SETTING

New York State's Expanded Partner Services (ExPS) D2C program has identified many persons reported as "current to care." This evaluation describes these persons after 24 months of follow-up and identifies HIV-related laboratory-based testing patterns and results to determine whether this cohort could benefit from further programmatic intervention.

METHODOLOGY

Data from ExPS assignments from September 2013 to May 2016 were used. Persons "current to care" were compared with persons NIC on demographics, subsequent HIV-related laboratory-based testing, and viral load suppression status. Persons "current to care" receiving subsequent HIV-related laboratory-based testing were compared with those who did not receive HIV-related labs.

RESULTS

Persons "current to care" significantly differed from persons NIC on demographics and subsequent HIV-related laboratory-based testing (82% of persons "current to care" had subsequent HIV-related labs, versus 99% of those NIC who were relinked to care). Persons "current to care" were more likely to be virally suppressed at their subsequent lab than persons NIC who were relinked to care (72% vs. 47%). Minor differences were noted for persons "current to care" receiving subsequent HIV-related labs compared with those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Persons "current to care" reflect a unique cohort who might benefit from further programmatic intervention. Although most received additional HIV-related labs, some were without labs for the duration of follow-up.

Data to Care: Lessons Learned From Delivering Technical Assistance to 20 Health Departments

BACKGROUND

Data to Care (D2C) is a public health strategy that uses HIV surveillance and other data to identify persons living with HIV who are "not in care" to link them to medical care or other services. To support health department implementation of D2C, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention supported direct technical assistance (TA) to build health department D2C capacity.

METHODS

Between 2013 and 2017, 2 contracting organizations worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide intensive D2C TA to 20 US health departments. A requirement for applying for TA was the mandatory reporting of all CD4 T-lymphocyte and HIV viral load test results by laboratories to the health department's HIV surveillance system. Health department selection criteria included organizational factors; jurisdiction laws/policies about data confidentiality and sharing; and HIV morbidity level.

RESULTS

Peer-to-peer consultation, technical consultation, training, information transfer, materials development, materials distribution, and technology transfer were methods used for delivering TA based on the health department's needs and preferences. TA supported health department progress in areas such as confidentiality and data security, stakeholder engagement, quality of HIV surveillance data, data sharing, staffing resources, creating "not-in-care" lists, and program evaluation.

CONCLUSION

Developing D2C programs is not a linear process, and there is no one standardized approach. Health departments made the most rapid progress when TA included peer-to-peer support among health departments. Participation in this project facilitated, in some cases for the first time, collaboration between staff across HIV surveillance, prevention, and care programs.