Cost Analysis and Performance Assessment of Partner Services for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, New York State, 2014

Objective To estimate the programmatic costs of partner services for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydial infection. Study Setting New York State and local health departments conducting partner services activities in 2014. Study Design A cost analysis estimated, from the state perspective, total program costs and cost per case assignment, patient interview, partner notification, and disease-specific key performance indicator. Data Collection Data came from contracts, a time study of staff effort, and statewide surveillance systems. Principal Findings Disease-specific costs per case assignment (mean: $580; range: $502–$1,111), patient interview ($703; $608–$1,609), partner notification ($1,169; $950–$1,936), and key performance indicator ($2,697; $1,666–$20,255) varied across diseases. Most costs (79 percent) were devoted to gonorrhea and chlamydial infection investigations. Conclusions Cost analysis complements cost-effectiveness analysis in evaluating program performance and guiding improvements.