The impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on HIV care continuum outcomes across the United States

Abstract

Background HIV care continuum outcome disparities by health insurance status have been noted among people with HIV (PWH). We therefore examined associations between state Medicaid expansion and HIV outcomes in the US. Methods Adults (≥18 years) with ≥1 visit in NA-ACCORD clinical cohorts from 2012-2017 contributed person-time annually between first and final visit or death; in each calendar year, clinical retention was ≥2 completed visits >90 days apart, ART receipt was receipt of ≥3 antiretroviral agents, and viral suppression was last measured HIV-1 RNA <200 copies/mL. CD4 at enrollment was obtained within 6 months of enrollment in cohort. Difference-in-differences(DID) models quantified associations between Medicaid expansion changes (by state of residence) and HIV outcomes. Results Across 50 states, 87,290 PWH contributed 325,113 person-years of follow-up. Medicaid expansion had a substantial positive effect on CD4 at enrollment (DID=93.5, 95% CI: 52.9, 134 cells/mm3), a small negative effect on proportions clinically retained (DID=-0.19, 95%CI: -0.037, -0.01), and no effects on ART receipt (DID=0.001, 95%CI: -0.003, 0.005) or viral suppression (DID=-0.14, 95%CI-0.34, 0.07). Conclusion Medicaid expansion had a positive effect on CD4 at entry, suggesting more timely HIV testing and care linkage, but generally null effects on downstream HIV care continuum measures.