AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) National Resource Forecasting Model
Period of Performance: 09/25/02-03/24/03
POI leads a team of researchers from The Lewin Group and the Howard University School of Pharmacy to develop a preliminary plan for the development of an estimation model project national ADAP resource needs. POI undertook the following objectives: (1) reviewed the construction of earlier econometric models designed to estimate ADAP fiscal requirements; (2) identified sources of data required to undertake the forecasting mode; used MS Access database and SPSS to assess the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of data generated by State ADAPs; (3) used SPSS to analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual expenditure and utilization files; (4) prepared tabular results of the analyses using SPSS; (5) prepared graphic presentations of the study findings using MS Graph Charts and PowerPoint; (6) prepared a report for the sponsor, including recommendations for changes in the data elements collected from State ADAPs.

Continuation and Development of a Third Phase of a MAI Evaluation
Period of Performance: 09/30/02 – 09/29/04
The objective of this project is to develop a third phase of a MAI-funded project that supports the ongoing identification and description of agencies receiving CARE Act funds, as well as and assessment of the impact of MAI funds on HIV care for racial/ethnic minority clients. POI addressed these objectives by: (1) conducting a qualitative assessment of MAI funding on Title I grantees and subgrantees; (2) maintaining the CARE Act Agency Database to ensure timely data; (3) developing an SQL Server 2000 database containing organization data for all agencies receiving CARE Act funds; (4) updating CAAD files to reflect newly funded grantees and subgrantees; (5) design a webpage using VisualStudio.net to allow survey respondents to record their survey responses; (6) creating new SQL Server 2000 tables; (7) using Castelle PC-based fax software to transmit informational queries to subgrantees; (8) conducting data entry and cleaning using Access; (9) producing tabular results using Excel and SPSS, (10) producing graphs using MS Graph Charts, and (11) preparing a report to the sponsor.

Differences in Access to HIV Medications by Race/Ethnicity 
Period of Performance: 09/01/99 – 12/31/99
Objectives of the project were to: (1) Provide technical advice regarding the research design and implementation of a health services research project to assess differences in access to HIV medications among white and racial/ethnic minority patients, (2) advise UCSF programming staff on specific SAS programming protocols to identify and characterize demographic characteristics and medication use of HIV-infected individuals in Medicaid claims and utilization data; (3) orient UCSF staff regarding the file construction and attributes of Medicaid claims history and eligibility files, application of local codes, and limitations of data maintained in those files; (4) reviewed and critiqued SAS programs and statistical results, and (5) reviewed and commented on drafts of project reports.

Evaluation of the Changes in Minority AIDS Initiative-Funded Minority Community-Based Organizations
Period of Performance: 09/30/03-09/29/04
POI will collaborate with JSI to undertake an evaluation of the changes in minority community-based organizations resulting from Minority AIDS Initiative funding. To achieve this objective POI will undertake the following activities: (1) participate in the design of a telephone and on-site interview instrument; (2) participate in site visits; (3) design a geoanalysis database in Access that include epidemiologic data and HIV service provider site locations, estimated travel times, and other relevant data elements; (4) design and test methods to undertake geoanalysis of the relationship between the residential location of HIV infected individuals and location of service providers; (5) use GIS software to compute travel times between residential locations and provider sites; (6) use SPSS to conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses; (7) use GIS software to design maps that depict the relationship between HIV prevalence and service provider location; (8) use Excel and SPSS to produce tabular results from the analysis; (9) use MS Graph Charts and PowerPoint to graphically display the results of the study; and (10) prepare an analysis for the client.

Participation of Minority Providers in Clinical and Social Support Services Funded by the Ryan White CARE Act
Period of Performance: 06/04/99 – 09/19/99
The goals of the project are to: (1) improve HAB’s understanding of the services provided by minority providers and supported by CARE Act funds and the organizational structures of those providers; (2) identify effective policies and practices used by HAB and CARE Act grantees to include minority providers in planning, resource allocation, and funded services; (3) gain a better understanding of barriers experienced by minority providers in obtaining CARE Act funds and recommend strategies to reduce those barriers; and (4) ascertain best practices used to reduce barriers to funding of minority providers and recommend how those best practices might be adopted. Objectives undertaken to conduct this project include: (1) conduct focus groups and telephone interviews with minority providers; (2) design and conduct a survey of minority providers funded by Titles I and II of the Ryan White CARE Act; (3) use Excel and Access to design a database for the automation of survey results; (4) use SPSS to conduct statistical analysis of the survey results; (5) use SPSS and Excel to create tabular results; (6) use PowerPoint and MS Graph Chart to illustrate the results of the survey; and (7) prepare a final report for the Client.

Policy Issues Regarding Potential Ways Ryan White CARE Act Funded Services Can be Improved
Period of Performance: 03/15/99 – 09/30/99 The goals of the project are to:
(1) improve HAB’s understanding of the services provided by minority providers and supported by CARE Act funds and the organizational structures of those providers; (2) identify effective policies and practices used by HAB and CARE Act grantees to include minority providers in planning, resource allocation, and funded services; (3) gain a better understanding of barriers experienced by minority providers in obtaining CARE Act funds and recommend strategies to reduce those barriers; and (4) ascertain best practices used to reduce barriers to funding of minority providers and recommend how those best practices might be adopted. Objectives undertaken to conduct this project include: (1) conduct focus groups and telephone interviews with minority providers; (2) design and conduct a survey of minority providers funded by Titles I and II of the Ryan White CARE Act; (3) use Excel and Access to design a database for the automation of survey results; (4) use SPSS to conduct statistical analysis of the survey results; (5) use SPSS and Excel to create tabular results; (6) use PowerPoint and MS Graph Chart to illustrate the results of the survey; and (7) prepare a final report for the client.

Policy Study: Examination of Key Fiscal Issues Related to Grantees of the Ryan White CARE Act
Period of Performance: 05/05/03-12/19/03 In this project we are:
(1) closely examining three legislative fiscal requirements of the CARE Act to provide HRSA with a clearer understanding of Congressional intent to share HIV costs with grantees and with the primary payers of HIV-infected persons, including State, municipal, and other payers and (2) provide HRSA with a better understanding of whether and how these mandated requirements are being met by grantees during times of changes in healthcare financing and during an economic downturn. The fiscal requirements are matching funds, maintenance of effort, and payer of last resort. To achieve the project goals we undertaken the following objectives: (1) constructed an econometric model to develop a mathematical index to assess the relative fiscal status of 52 metropolitan areas in the US; (2) created an Excel and SPSS to analyze local and State contributions to HIV financing; (3) conducted a systematic review of budgetary and other data that documents the local and State governmental crisis in six communities; (4) conduct interviews with local and State governmental officials and health care providers; (5) use MS Graph and PowerPoint to illustrate tabular findings; and (6) prepare a report for submission to the client.

Self-Assessment Module for AIDS Service
Providers Period of Performance: 03/26/98 – 09/30/98
The purpose of this contract was to design an interactive self-assessment document for posting on the HIV/AIDS Bureau website. The self-assessment allows AIDS service providers to complete a multi-module instrument that evaluates various aspects of readiness for participation in managed care and/or integrated care networks. Word software was used for text and mathematical operations.