Cost Analysis of the Positive Health Check Intervention to Suppress HIV Viral Load and Retain Patients in HIV Clinical Care

Context: Digital video-based behavioral interventions are effective tools for improving HIV care and treatment outcomes. Objective: To assess the costs of the Positive Health Check (PHC) intervention delivered in HIV primary care settings. Design, Setting, and Intervention: The PHC study was a randomized trial evaluating the effectiveness of a highly tailored, interactive video-counseling intervention delivered in 4 HIV care clinics in the United States in improving viral suppression and retention in care. Eligible patients were randomized to either the PHC intervention or the control arm. Control arm participants received standard of care (SOC), and intervention arm participants received SOC plus PHC. The intervention was delivered on computer tablets in the clinic waiting rooms. The PHC intervention improved viral suppression among male participants. A microcosting approach was used to assess the program costs, including labor hours, materials and supplies, equipment, and office overhead. Participants: Persons with HIV infection, receiving care in participating clinics. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was the number of patients virally suppressed, defined as having fewer than 200 copies/mL by the end of their 12-month follow-up. Results: A total of 397 (range across sites [range], 95-102) participants were enrolled in the PHC intervention arm, of whom 368 participants (range, 82-98) had viral load data at baseline and were included in the viral load analyses. Of those, 210 (range, 41-63) patients were virally suppressed at the end of their 12-month follow-up visit. The overall annual program cost was $402 274 (range, $65 581-$124 629). We estimated the average program cost per patient at $1013 (range, $649-$1259) and the cost per patient virally suppressed at $1916 (range, $1041-$3040). Recruitment and outreach costs accounted for 30% of PHC program costs. Conclusions: The costs of this interactive video-counseling intervention are comparable with other retention in care or reengagement interventions.