ACA Understanding Incomplete Among HIV Providers

In a survey gauging awareness of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) providers, more than a quarter did not know whether their state had opted to expand Medicaid. Researchers recently published their findings online in Clinical Infectious Diseases (doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy296).

“These findings demonstrate gaps in HIV medical providers' knowledge about ACA-related changes to HIV healthcare delivery,” said researcher Kathleen A. McManus, MD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, in a University of Virginia Health System press release. “Importantly, obtaining ACA-related information from clinic case managers was associated with correct ACA knowledge, and as a clinic-based resource, these colleagues should be engaged by HIV medical providers to improve knowledge of health system shifts.”

A total 253 physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners providing HIV care from across the country responded to the web-based survey. Some 61% correctly answered all four questions that assessed ACA awareness. A third responded “I don’t know” to one or more questions.

According to the study:

• 86% of HIV providers knew the ACA provided subsidies for people with limited incomes to purchase health insurance;
• 90% knew the ACA made it illegal to deny health care coverage because of a pre-existing condition;
• 91% knew the ACA did not eliminate the Ryan White Program, a federal initiative that provides a range of care for people with HIV; and
• 73% knew if their state had chosen to expand Medicaid.

HIV providers in Medicaid expansion states were more likely to answer all four questions correctly compared with HIV providers in states that did not expand Medicaid (71% vs 57%). What’s more, HIV providers in Medicaid expansion states were more optimistic than their peers in nonexpansion states that the ACA would improve patient outcomes, the study found.

—Jolynn Tumolo

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