HIV Care for Patients With Complex Needs: A Controlled Evaluation of a Walk-In, Incentivized Care Model

Background. New approaches are needed to provide care to persons with HIV who do not engage in conventionally organized HIV clinics. The Max Clinic in Seattle, Washington, is a walk-in, incentivized HIV care model located in a public health STD clinic that provides care in collaboration with a comprehensive HIV primary care clinic (the Madison Clinic). Methods. We compared outcomes in the first 50 patients enrolled in Max Clinic and 100 randomly selected matched Madison Clinic control patients; patients in both groups were virally unsuppressed (viral load [VL] > 200 copies/mL) at baseline. The primary outcome was any VL indicating viral suppression (>= 1 VL < 200 copies/mL) during the 12 months postbaseline. Secondary outcomes were continuous viral suppression (>= 2 consecutive suppressed VLs >= 60 days apart) and engagement in care (>= 2 medical visits >= 60 days apart). We compared outcomes in the 12 months pre-and postbaseline and used generalized estimating equations to compare changes in Max vs control patients, adjusting for unstable housing, substance use, and psychiatric disorders. Results. Viral suppression improved in both groups pre-to-post (20% to 82% Max patients; P<.001; and 51% to 65% controls; P=.04), with a larger improvement in Max patients (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR], 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-5.9). Continuous viral suppression and engagement in care increased in both groups but did not differ significantly (continuous viral suppression: aRRR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.5-5.2; engagement: aRRR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.9-1.9). Conclusions. The Max Clinic improved viral suppression among patients with complex medical and social needs.