Predictors of HIV Care Outcomes among Recently Out-of-Care Individuals in The Massachusetts Cooperative Re-engagement Controlled Trial Cohort.

A cohort of individuals in care for HIV infection who were identified as being recently out-of-care (OOC) was recruited for a trial using a data-to-care approach and an intervention to facilitate re-engagement and retention in care. This allowed for analysis of demographic and clinical characteristics correlated with recently being OOC, re-engagement, and successful retention in care and viral suppression. Recently OOC persons with HIV infection (PWH) were identified for enrollment in the Cooperative Re-engagement Controlled Trial (CoRECT).

Potential impact of curative and preventive interventions toward hepatitis C elimination in people who inject drugs-A network modeling study.

Background: Injection-equipment-sharing networks play an important role in hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID). Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments for HCV infection and interventions to prevent HCV transmission are critical components of an overall hepatitis C elimination strategy, but how they contribute to the elimination outcomes in different PWID network settings are unclear.

Methods: We developed an agent-based network model of HCV transmission through the sharing of injection equipment among PWID and parameterized and calibrated the model with rural PWID data in the United States.

Electronic Health Record Data for Lyme Disease Surveillance, Massachusetts, USA, 2017-2018.

Lyme disease surveillance based on provider and laboratory reports underestimates incidence. We developed an algorithm for automating surveillance using electronic health record data. We identified potential Lyme disease markers in electronic health record data (laboratory tests, diagnosis codes, prescriptions) from January 2017-December 2018 in 2 large practice groups in Massachusetts, USA.

Electronic Health Record-Based Algorithm for Monitoring Respiratory Virus-Like Illness.

Viral respiratory illness surveillance has traditionally focused on single pathogens (e.g., influenza) and required fever to identify influenza-like illness (ILI).

COVID-19 Severity in People With HIV Compared With Those Without HIV.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) may be at risk for more severe COVID-19 outcomes. We compared risk for severe COVID-19 in PWH with matched individuals without HIV.

Methods: We identified adults in Massachusetts with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, March 2020-July 2022, using electronic medical record data from 3 large clinical practice groups.

Using the exploration, preparation, implementation, sustainment (EPIS) framework to assess the cooperative re-engagement controlled trial (CoRECT).

Background: "Data to Care" (D2C) is a strategy which relies on a combination of public health surveillance data supplemented by clinic data to support continuity of HIV care. The Cooperative Re-Engagement Controlled Trial (CoRECT) was a CDC-sponsored randomized controlled trial of a D2C model, which provided an opportunity to examine the process of implementing an intervention for people with HIV (PWH) who are out-of-care across three public health department jurisdictions. Using the EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment) framework, we aimed to retrospectively describe the implementation process for each site to provide insights and guidance to inform future D2C activities implemented by public health agencies and their clinical and community partners.

Hepatitis C Cascades: Data to Inform Hepatitis C Elimination in the United States.

The United States has a goal to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. To accomplish this goal, hepatitis C virus (HCV) care cascades (hereinafter, HCV cascades) can be used to measure progress toward HCV elimination and identify disparities in HCV testing and care. In this topical review of HCV cascades, we describe common definitions of cascade steps, review the application of HCV cascades in health care and public health settings, and discuss the strengths and limitations of data sources used.

Tabby2: a user-friendly web tool for forecasting state-level TB outcomes in the United States.

Background: In the United States, the tuberculosis (TB) disease burden and associated factors vary substantially across states. While public health agencies must choose how to deploy resources to combat TB and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), state-level modeling analyses to inform policy decisions have not been widely available.

Methods: We developed a mathematical model of TB epidemiology linked to a web-based user interface - Tabby2.

Syndromic Surveillance for COVID-19, Massachusetts, February 2020-November 2022: The Impact of Fever and Severity on Algorithm Performance.

Objectives: Syndromic surveillance can help identify the onset, location, affected populations, and trends in infectious diseases quickly and efficiently. We developed an electronic medical record-based surveillance algorithm for COVID-19-like illness (CLI) and assessed its performance in 5 Massachusetts medical practice groups compared with statewide counts of confirmed cases.

Materials And Methods: Using data from February 2020 through November 2022, the CLI algorithm was implemented in sites that provide ambulatory and inpatient care for about 25% of the state.

The Cooperative Re-Engagement Controlled Trial (CoRECT): Durable Viral Suppression Assessment.

Background: A collaborative, data-to-care strategy to identify persons with HIV (PWH) newly out-of-care, combined with an active public health intervention, significantly increases the proportion of PWH re-engaged in HIV care. We assessed this strategy's impact on durable viral suppression (DVS).

Methods: A multisite, prospective randomized controlled trial for out-of-care individuals using a data-to-care strategy and comparing public health field services to locate, contact, and facilitate access to care versus the standard of care.

Costs and cost-effectiveness of a collaborative data-to-care intervention for HIV treatment and care in the United States.

Introduction: Data-to-care programmes utilize surveillance data to identify persons who are out of HIV care, re-engage them in care and improve HIV care outcomes. We assess the costs and cost-effectiveness of re-engagement in an HIV care intervention in the United States.

Methods: The Cooperative Re-engagement Control Trial (CoRECT) employed a data-to-care collaborative model between health departments and HIV care providers, August 2016-July 2018.

Expanding Latent Tuberculosis Infection Testing and Treatment in Massachusetts Primary Care Clinics via the ECHO Model.

Introduction/objectives: In the US, reactivation of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) accounts for 80% of new cases. In 2016, the US Preventive Services Task Force provided a new recommendation that primary care providers (PCPs) should conduct LTBI screening, whereas in the past, LTBI cases were evaluated and treated by specialty providers. This shift in care revealed knowledge gaps surrounding LTBI treatment among PCPs.

An outbreak of HIV infection among people who inject drugs in northeastern Massachusetts: findings and lessons learned from a medical record review.

Background: We conducted a medical record review for healthcare utilization, risk factors, and clinical data among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Massachusetts to aid HIV outbreak response decision-making and strengthen public health practice.

Setting: Two large community health centers (CHCs) that provide HIV and related services in northeastern Massachusetts.

Methods: Between May and July 2018, we reviewed medical records for 88 people with HIV (PWH) connected to the outbreak.

The Cooperative Re-Engagement Controlled trial (CoRECT): A randomised trial to assess a collaborative data to care model to improve HIV care continuum outcomes.

Background: Persons with HIV (PWH), aware of their HIV infection but not in care account for an estimated 42.6% of HIV transmissions in the United States. Health departments and clinics implemented a collaborative data-to-care strategy to identify persons newly out-of-care with the objective of increasing re-engagement, retention in medical care, and viral load suppression.

Leveraging Health Department Capacities, Partnerships, and Health Insurance for Infectious Disease Response in Massachusetts, 2014-2018.

Policies facilitating integration of public health programs can improve the public health response, but the literature on approaches to integration across multiple system levels is limited. We describe the efforts of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to integrate its HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infection (STI), and tuberculosis response through policies that mandated contracted organizations to submit specimens for testing to the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory; co-test blood specimens for HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis; integrate HIV, viral hepatitis, and STI disease surveillance and case management in a single data system; and implement an integrated infectious disease drug assistance program. From 2014 through 2018, the number of tests performed by the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory increased from 16 321 to 33 674 for HIV, from 11 054 to 33 670 for HCV, and from 19 169 to 30 830 for syphilis.

A review of network simulation models of hepatitis C virus and HIV among people who inject drugs.

Network modelling is a valuable tool for simulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) and assessing the potential impact of treatment and harm-reduction interventions. In this paper, we review literature on network simulation models, highlighting key structural considerations and questions that network models are well suited to address. We describe five approaches (Erdös-Rényi, Stochastic Block, Watts-Strogatz, Barabási-Albert, and Exponential Random Graph Model) used to model partnership formation with emphasis on the strengths of each approach in simulating different features of real-world PWID networks.

Opioid Use Fueling HIV Transmission in an Urban Setting: An Outbreak of HIV Infection Among People Who Inject Drugs-Massachusetts, 2015-2018.

To describe and control an outbreak of HIV infection among people who inject drugs (PWID). The investigation included people diagnosed with HIV infection during 2015 to 2018 linked to 2 cities in northeastern Massachusetts epidemiologically or through molecular analysis. Field activities included qualitative interviews regarding service availability and HIV risk behaviors.

Electronic Health Record Use in Public Health Infectious Disease Surveillance, USA, 2018-2019.

Purpose Of Review: Electronic health records (EHRs) are an excellent source of data for disease symptoms, laboratory results, and medical treatments. Thus, EHR data may improve the completeness of notifiable disease case reporting and enable longitudinal collection of disease data. The purpose of this review is to examine the current state of EHR use in public health infectious disease surveillance in the USA.

Implementing Data to Care-What Are the Costs for the Health Department?

Background: The Cooperative Re-Engagement Controlled Trial (CoRECT) is a randomized controlled trial that uses a combined health department-provider data to care (D2C) model to identify out-of-care HIV-infected persons. We present cost data for programmatic aspects of the trial during the start-up period (first 30 days of the study).

Methods: We used microcosting methods to estimate health department start-up costs.

The Partnerships for Care Project in Massachusetts: Developing Partnerships and Data Systems to Increase Linkage and Engagement in Care for Individuals Living With HIV.

Background: Before implementation of the Massachusetts Partnerships for Care (MA P4C) project, Massachusetts did not routinely provide HIV partner services to newly diagnosed individuals. Identification of individuals disengaged from HIV care and assistance for re-engagement relied on community- and clinic-based HIV medical case management services. Processes to identify individuals out of HIV care used either surveillance or clinic data, but did not combine both.

Using HIV Surveillance and Clinic Data to Optimize Data to Care Efforts in Community Health Centers in Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Partnerships for Care Project.

Background: We describe Data to Care processes of the Massachusetts Partnerships for Care (MA P4C) project and identify factors associated with engagement, retention, and viral suppression outcomes.

Methods: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and participating community health centers generated lists of patients not in care based on a temporal gap in laboratory results, missed clinic visits, and provider concern regarding engagement. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and community health centers reviewed the lists monthly and identified out-of-care patients in need of linkage or re-engagement.

Cost-effectiveness and Budgetary Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Testing, Treatment, and Linkage to Care in US Prisons.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and treatment uptake in prisons remains low. We aimed to estimate clinical outcomes, cost-effectiveness (CE), and budgetary impact (BI) of HCV testing and treatment in United States (US) prisons or linkage to care at release.

Methods: We used individual-based simulation modeling with healthcare and Department of Corrections (DOC) perspectives for CE and BI analyses, respectively.

Association Between Receipt of a Medically Tailored Meal Program and Health Care Use.

Importance: Whether interventions to improve food access can reduce health care use is unknown.

Objective: To determine whether participation in a medically tailored meal intervention is associated with fewer subsequent hospitalizations.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using near/far matching instrumental variable analysis.