Abstract
Background
People living with HIV (PLWH) with Medicaid historically have lower viral suppression (VS) rates than those with other insurance. VS rates with Medicaid expansion (ME) are unknown. We examined HIV outcomes (engagement in care, VS) by insurance status for a non-urban Southeastern Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Clinic cohort for year after ME.
Methods
Participants were PLWH ages 18-63 who attended > 1 HIV medical visit/year in 2018 and 2019. Log-binomial models were used to estimate the association of characteristics with Medicaid enrollment prevalence and one-year risks of engagement in care and VS in 2019.
Results
Among 577 patients, 241 (42%) were newly eligible for Medicaid due to ME and 79 (33%) enrolled (Figure 1a). For those without Medicare, Medicaid enrollment was higher for those with incomes < 100% FPL (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.86) compared to those with incomes > 101% FPL. Those enrolled in Medicaid due to ME had 87% engagement in care compared to 80-92% for other insurance plans (Figure 1b). Controlling for 2018 engagement, older age (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] for 10 years 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05; Table 1) was associated with being engaged in 2019. Engagement was lower for those with employment-based insurance (aRR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-0.99) and Medicare (aRR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.96). Of those with viral loads in 2018 and 2019 (n=549), those who newly enrolled in Medicaid due to ME had 85% VS compared to 87-99% for other insurance plans (Figure 1c). In univariate analysis, age, income, and baseline viral load status were associated with viral suppression (Table 2), and those with Medicaid due to ME (aRR 0.90, 95% CI 0.81-1.00) were less likely to achieve VS compared with others.
Figure 1
Table 1
Table 2
Conclusion
The low uptake of ME was likely influenced by many PLWH already having Medicare. While the RWHAP supports high quality HIV care, Medicaid enrollment improves access to non-HIV care and should be supported by RWHAP. Given that engagement in care was high for PLWH who newly enrolled in Medicaid, the finding of lower VS is surprising. The discordance may be due to medication access gaps associated with changes in pharmacy logistics. Future studies with larger cohorts will need to examine how ME contributes to PLWH’s overall health and to ending the HIV epidemic.
Disclosures
Kathleen A. McManus, MD, MSCR, Gilead Sciences, Inc (Research Grant or Support, Shareholder) Rebecca Dillingham, MD, MPH, Gilead Sciences, Inc (Research Grant or Support)Warm Health Technologies, Inc (Consultant)
High Rates of Retention and Viral Suppression in the US HIV Safety Net System: HIV Care Continuum in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, 2011