As summarized in this PDF, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published data from the 2019 cycle (June 2019–May 2020) of the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP). The MMP is an annual, cross-sectional complex sample survey that reports nationally representative estimates of behavioral and clinical characteristics of adults with diagnosed HIV infection in the United States. A total of 23 project areas from 16 states and Puerto Rico were funded to conduct data collection for the 2019 cycle. This report provides information on behaviors and clinical outcomes affecting risk of HIV transmission, as well as morbidity and mortality of people with HIV, that are critical for achieving the goals of the HIV National Strategic Plan and theEnding the HIV Epidemic initiative.
The latest report shows that, among adults with diagnosed HIV, an estimated 98% had health insurance or coverage for care or medications; 46% had coverage through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, 45% had Medicaid, 28% had Medicare, and 34% had private health insurance (not mutually exclusive categories). An estimated 43% had a disability, 41% were unemployed, and 42% had household incomes at or below the federal poverty threshold. Overall, 97% had received outpatient HIV care during the past 12 months and 79% were retained in care during the past 12 months. An estimated 83% had an ART prescription documented in the medical record during the 12 months before interview, and 61% had 100% ART dose adherence in the past 30 days. An estimated 61% had sustained viral suppression, defined as having all viral loads during the past 12 months being <200 copies/mL or undetectable. An estimated 16% of adults with diagnosed HIV had symptoms of major or other depression, and 21% had symptoms of mild, moderate, or severe anxiety, in the past 2 weeks.
The HIV National Strategic Plan highlights the importance of reducing homelessness and HIV-related stigma, two social determinants of health, in improving HIV care and treatment outcomes and decreasing disparities in priority populations. MMP provides data on homelessness and HIV-related stigma to monitor progress in achieving national HIV prevention goals. Among adults with diagnosed HIV, the estimated prevalence of homelessness in the past 12 months among persons who received outpatient HIV care was 9%. HIV-related stigma was assessed using a score that ranged from 0 (lowest stigma) to 100 (highest stigma); the national median score among adults with diagnosed HIV was 30.7.
Information gathered from the MMP provides also important and extensive information about the use of—and need for—specific health care services, barriers to receiving HIV care, and factors affecting adherence to ART medication and viral suppression. This information can be used to help improve the quality of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for people with diagnosed HIV throughout the United States.
For more information on the Medical Monitoring Project, please see the full report and fact sheet.