Assessing the Approach to HIV Case Management

Case management is a standard practice for assisting people living with HIV in the United States. While HIV case management has resulted in positive outcomes for clients and their families, clients still face challenges. As part of an evaluation of Utah's Ryan White Part B Program, the Utah Department of Health and researchers from the University of Utah assessed the use of a tiered approach for case management in eight other states to determine the feasibility and potential effectiveness of this approach. Through review of publicly available materials and interviews with health department employees, we examined each state's 1) definitions of tiers, 2) acuity scales, 3) services provided within the tiers, 4) qualifications of case managers, and 5) how evaluations were conducted. This article summarizes how these various features might be combined to create a model that states could use for tiered case management. We developed a three-tiered model using a numeric summary for nine items to assess acuity, with levels defined as maintenance outreach support services, brief-contact management, and medical/non-medical management. Since none of the states reviewed had an existing formal evaluation tool, we propose areas to be covered in an annual formal evaluation.