Abstract
Objective: To evaluate Positive Choices (PC), a program that employed lay health workers to motivate antiretroviral adherence among persons living with HIV with coverage from Indiana's high-risk insurance pool. Methods: Four hundred and forty nine participants living in the greater Indianapolis area were randomly allocated to treatment (n=91) or control (n=358) groups and followed for one year. Results: Compared to control subjects, PC subjects were more likely to adhere to HIV medications (medication possession ratio adherence ≥0.95, OR. =1.83, p=0.046), and to achieve undetectable viral load (<50. copies/mL, OR. =2.01, p=0.011) in the 12 months following introduction of PC. There were no significant differences observed between groups in any of self-reported health status indicators. Conclusion: Estimates suggest that PC clients were 16% more likely to have undetectable viral loads than clients in standard care. The incremental program cost was approximately $10,000 for each additional person who achieved an undetectable viral load. Practice implications: As persons living with HIV experience greater longevity and healthcare reform expands coverage to these high-risk populations, greater demands will be placed on the HIV-care workforce. Results suggest lay health workers may serve as effective adjuncts to professional care providers.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 184-190 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Patient education and counseling |
Volume | 89 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2012 |
Funding
The evaluation was conducted on the PC program as it was implemented in Marion County between October 2008 and March 2010. The PC program was developed by the Indiana Comprehensive Health Insurance Association (ICHIA), the state's high-risk pool, for PLWH who were also enrolled in the Health Insurance Assistance Plan (HIAP), a program operated by the Indiana State Department of Health. HIAP provides enrollees a comprehensive major medical insurance policy that covers all premium, co-payment, and deductible costs for HIV-positive Indiana residents living at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines who do not qualify for Medicaid and have been unable to obtain health insurance in the private market. All HIAP enrollees are also assigned to a care manager through the Indiana State Department of Health's (ISDH) HIV Care Coordination Program. Care managers are trained professionals who locate, facilitate access to, and monitor use of the full range of HIV-related services in cooperation with the client. Care managers can also help identify government assistance programs to cover the cost of housing and other living expenses. HIAP is funded through the Ryan White Part B mechanism, and the HIV Care Coordination Program is primarily funded by state dollars. Both programs are offered at no cost to enrollees.
Keywords
- HIV
- Lay health workers
- Medication adherence
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine