957 - Efficacy of Using Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) to Re-engage Out of Care HIV/HCV Co-Infected Persons into HCV Treatment

Background: Published treatment cascades for HIV/HCV co-infection show WHO goals for HCV micro-elimination are not being met. Barriers include entry to care, access to DAA, treatment adherence, and out of care (OOC) patients. A Data to Care approach used to define persons with HIV (PWH) who are OOC, together with DPH-employed DIS to promote re-engagement has been successful for re-engaging OOC PWH. We modified this approach to re-engage OOC HIV/HCV coinfected persons.

Methods: Surveillance databases used: CTEDSS (CT Electronic Disease Surveillance System used for HCV) and eHARS (electronic HIV/AIDS Reporting System). Two OOC cohorts studied: HIV OOC for 12 months (no HIV lab 10/2018-10/2019) and 18 months (no HIV lab 12/2017-6/2019). Lists generated for the 2 cohorts matched to CTEDSS to determine the coinfected OOC. DIS supervisor performed pre-work/case conferencing on lists to assess DIS intervention eligibility. DIS success was defined as those who reengaged (made/kept appointment) out of those successfully contacted. Analysis: tests of homogeneity performed between those OOC and not OOC; evaluation of cases at each level of the intervention; measures of dispersion/central tendency performed illustrating reengagement workload.Project Flow Chart


Results: 12-month OOC: Non-baby boomers (p-value 0.05) and those with detectable HIV VLs (0.04) were more likely to be OOC; 53.7% were DIS-eligible; DIS initiation to client contact, 7 days average (range 4-11); 75 calls and 31 field visits for those successfully contacted; reengagement success rate, 39%. 18-month OOC: Non-baby boomers (0.017), Hispanic and Black race/ethnicity (0.043), and those with detectable HIV viral loads (0.002) were more likely to be OOC; 44% were DIS-eligible; DIS initiation to client contact, 12 days average (range 8-18); 74 calls and 36 field visits for those successfully contacted; reengagement success rate, 43%.Results for the Two Cohorts
Out of Care and Workload Results


Conclusion: A data-to-care approach successfully identified, characterized, connected OOC HIV/HCV coinfected patients. DIS provided patient education, facilitating reengagement to care. DIS Success rates are encouraging but small; efforts were labor intensive. Additional strategies focused on preventing non-baby boomers, persons of color, and those with detectable HIV VLs from becoming OOC should be studied.