Program Refinements to Optimize Model Impact and Scalability Based on Evidence

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In New York, the achievement of 90-90-90 goals is jeopardized not by limited access to affordable care and treatment, but by persistent disparities in HIV viral suppression (VS). Complex behavioral and structural barriers to achieving and maintaining VS require coordinated, combination approaches to meet medical and social service needs. In 2009, at 28 Ryan White Part A (RWPA)-funded agencies, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) launched a multi-component HIV Care Coordination Program (CCP) directed toward the most vulnerable persons living with HIV (PLWH) in NYC. A systematic CCP effectiveness study began in 2013 (R01 MH101028; PIs: Irvine, Nash). Findings to date suggest that the CCP is superior to usual care for vulnerable subgroups of PLWH, but there remains substantial room for improvement in short- and long-term VS. In an immediate evidence-to-practice feedback loop, the DOHMH is implementing a refined CCP model in 2018. Greater focusing, tailoring and cues for delivery of key components are expected to increase CCP engagement, reach, fidelity, scalability, effectiveness and impact. The aim of the proposed study is to estimate the effect of the revised (vs. original) CCP on timely VS (within 4 months of enrollment), using experimental methods.

Detailed Description
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Stepped-wedge design. The 17 veteran CCP implementers re-awarded to provide RWPA Care Coordination services in 2018 will be randomized to immediate or delayed implementation of the revised CCP model, with delayed implementers continuing to provide services under the original model until their assigned start date 9 months later, so that we can rigorously and contemporaneously compare effects of the original and revised CCP for the outcome of timely VS. The outcome measure will be derived from the New York City HIV surveillance registry, a population-based data source of longitudinal laboratory (VL, CD4) testing records on all diagnosed NYC PLWH, regardless of medical provider within NYC, and for periods extending before and after program enrollment or discontinuation.

Official Title
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Program Refinements to Optimize Model Impact and Scalability Based on Evidence

Conditions
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Hiv

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Revised Care Coordination Program
* Other: Original Care Coordination Program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: The original CCP permits enrollment of HIV-infected adults or emancipated minors who are eligible for local Ryan White Part A services (based on residence in the NYC grant area and a household income <435% of federal poverty level) and are 1) newly HIV-diagnosed; 2) out of care >9 months or never in care; 3) missing visits or irregularly in care; 4) exhibiting high VL, VL rebound, or antiretroviral therapy (ART) resistance; 5) new to ART; 6) incompletely adherent to ART; or 7) facing a potential barrier to adherence The revised CCP permits enrollment of HIV-infected adults or emancipated minors who are eligible for local Ryan White Part A services (based on residence in the NYC grant area and a household income <435% of federal poverty level) and are 1) newly HIV-diagnosed; 2) out of care >9 months or never in care; 3) virally unsuppressed at the most recent known viral load test in the past 12 months; 4) living with untreated hepatitis C; 5) pregnant; 6)undergoing a change in ART regimen or 7)experiencing other high risk for falling out of medical care or becoming unsuppressed. For criteria (6) and (7), eligibility is conditional upon Self-management Assessment results, unless additional criteria are met. Exclusion Criteria: The stepped-wedge experiment is limited to HIV patients who are virally unsuppressed at the time of program enrollment. Individuals with VL <200 copies/mL at last test before or on the day of program enrollment will be excluded from the comparison of model effects on timely viral suppression (TVS).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Sequential Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Stepped-wedge design: To compare effects of the original and revised CCP contemporaneously for timely viral suppression, we will randomize (within matched pairs and one trio) 17 veteran CCP-implementing agencies to immediate or delayed implementation of the revised model, with delayed implementers providing services under the original model until their assigned start date 9 months later.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Original Care Coordination Program<br>Specific intervention components include: 1) outreach for initial case finding and after any missed appointment; 2) case management, including social services and benefits assessments; 3) multidisciplinary care team communication and decision-making via case conferences; 4) patient navigation, including appointment reminders, assistance with scheduling appointments, transportation resources, and accompaniment to primary care visits; 5) antiretroviral treatment adherence support, including directly observed therapy for individuals with greatest need; and 6) structured health promotion, for which clients are assigned to program tracks (determining their frequency of health promotion visits: weekly, monthly or quarterly), depending on their level of assessed need. | Other: Original Care Coordination Program<br>* Original Care Coordination<br>|
| Experimental: Revised Care Coordination Program<br>The revised model includes the original intervention components without program track assignments or the three-month induction period of weekly visits. Program additions include a set of tools for assessment and counseling around client HIV self-management capacity; allowance of video chat for delivery of some services; and optional immediate antiretroviral therapy (iART: ensuring the client has a filled prescription within 4 days of enrollment or diagnosis). Other changes include greater guidance on recruiting individuals with unsuppressed VL and a switch from per-member-per-day reimbursement to fee-for-service reimbursement that accounts for resource demands, such as staff travel to clients' homes, and offers higher rates for meeting performance standards. | Other: Revised Care Coordination Program<br>* Greater focusing, tailoring and cues for delivery of key components of Care Coordination<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Timely Viral Suppression (TVS) | TVS defined as achieving viral suppression (VL <200 copies/mL) on the last VL test in the four months following CCP enrollment. | Four months after CCP enrollment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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viral load suppression, medical case management