BACKGROUND: Patients diagnosed with gonorrhea or chlamydia are at high risk for HIV and syphilis, and should be offered screening for both. GOAL: This study measures HIV and syphilis screening rates among Medicaid patients diagnosed with another sexually transmitted disease (STD). STUDY DESIGN: Using 1998 Medicaid claims data from 4 states, we identified individuals diagnosed with gonorrhea, urogenital chlamydia, or pelvic inflammatory disease, and then measured the proportion receiving screening tests for HIV and syphilis. RESULTS: Only 25% of STD-diagnosed Medicaid patients received screening tests for syphilis and only 15% for HIV. We found significant state-to-state variability in screening rates. CONCLUSION: Medicaid patients diagnosed with a nonbloodborne STD represent a high-risk group that is not adequately screened for syphilis and HIV despite repeated contact with medical professionals. Interventions should focus on eliminating missed opportunities for screening these high-risk individuals.
BACKGROUND:Patients diagnosed with gonorrhea or chlamydia are at high risk for HIV and syphilis, and should be offered screening for both. GOAL: This study measures HIV and syphilis screening rates among Medicaid patients diagnosed with another sexually transmitted disease (STD). STUDY DESIGN: Using 1998 Medicaid claims data from 4 states, we identified individuals diagnosed with gonorrhea, urogenital chlamydia, or pelvic inflammatory disease, and then measured the proportion receiving screening tests for HIV and syphilis. RESULTS: Only 25% of STD-diagnosed Medicaid patients received screening tests for syphilis and only 15% for HIV. We found significant state-to-state variability in screening rates. CONCLUSION: Medicaid patients diagnosed with a nonbloodborne STD represent a high-risk group that is not adequately screened for syphilis and HIV despite repeated contact with medical professionals. Interventions should focus on eliminating missed opportunities for screening these high-risk individuals.
Authors: George Rust; David Satcher; George Edgar Fryer; Robert S Levine; Daniel S Blumenthal Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-02-10 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Pamela W Klein; Ian B K Martin; Evelyn B Quinlivan; Cynthia L Gay; Peter A Leone Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2014 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Laura McWhirter; Yingbo Lou; Sarah Reingold; Sarah Warsh; Tara Thomas-Gale; Christine Haynes; Deborah Rinehart; Karen A Wendel; Holly M Frost Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2022-01-10 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: W D King; P Minor; C Ramirez Kitchen; L E Oré; S Shoptaw; G D Victorianne; G Rust Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 3.710
Authors: Oluwatoyosi A Adekeye; Winston E Abara; Junjun Xu; Joel M Lee; George Rust; David Satcher Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-08-24 Impact factor: 3.240