Health insurance and AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) increases retention in care among women living with HIV in the United States

AIDS Care. 2021 Aug;33(8):1044-1051. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2020.1849529. Epub 2020 Nov 25.

Abstract

Our objective was to examine the association between healthcare payer type and missed HIV care visits among 1,366 US women living with HIV (WLWH) enrolled in the prospective Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). We collected secondary patient-level data (October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018) from WLWH at nine WIHS sites. We used bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression to examine the relationship between healthcare payer type (cross-classification of patients' ADAP and health insurance enrollment) and missed visits-based retention in care, defined as no-show appointments for which patients did not reschedule. Our sample included all WLWH who self-reported having received HIV care at least once during the two consecutive biannual WIHS visits a year prior to October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018. In the bivariate model, compared to uninsured WLWH without ADAP, WLWH with private insurance + ADAP were more likely to be retained in care, as were WLWH with Medicaid only and private insurance only. In the adjusted model, WLWH with private insurance only were more likely to be retained in care compared to uninsured WLWH without ADAP. Private health insurance and ADAP are associated with increased odds of retention in care among WLWH.

Keywords: AIDS Drug Assistance Program; Women living with HIV; Women’s Interagency HIV study; retention in care.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Health
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retention in Care*
  • United States

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations