ABOVE: Metro Inclusive Health staff in St. Petersburg. Photo via Metro.
TAMPA BAY | Metro Inclusive Health announced Jan. 18 that the organization’s Copay it Forward program generated $660,485 in free healthcare throughout the region for those in need last year.
“We believe that no one, regardless of insurance status, should be denied quality, life-changing care,” the nonprofit describes the program. “For those without insurance coverage, healthcare services and prescription expenses can add up fast. But that’s where Copay It Forward comes in.”
Metro offers more than 100 programs and services for the local LGBTQ community and its allies, chief among them primary care. With 30 years of experience, their locations “provide the convenience of onsite labs and pharmacies, same-day test results and visits along with access to the most modern technology and providers with the highest level of medical certifications. “
At no additional cost to their insured patients, Copay it Forward utilizes normal pharmacy copayments to offer care to those who are under or uninsured. The initiative is powered by the Federal Health Resources & Services Administration’s 340b program, which allows nonprofit healthcare organizations like Metro to purchase prescription drugs at discount prices.
“In short, your copay does more at Metro Inclusive Health,” they summarize. The program provided $566,950 in care in 2021, growing by nearly $100,000 last year to benefit patients in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater and New Port Richey via in-person and virtual visits.
“Metro Inclusive Health’s ‘Copay it Forward’ program channels the power of insured patients to help knock down barriers to quality healthcare with essential, and often life-saving, services,” the organization said in a press release. “Just by using a designated partner pharmacy to fill their prescriptions, insured patients helped Metro Inclusive Health deliver $660,485 in free healthcare to uninsured patients at the organization’s four Tampa Bay locations … and via mobile and telehealth.”
“A community’s quality of life is directly affected by access to quality healthcare,” Metro Chief Marketing & Experience Officer Brian Bailey added. “The rising cost of healthcare and other needs has put livable wages under stress, which could stunt our area’s growing popularity as a place to live, work and play. When you’re working just to ‘live,’ ‘play’ becomes much less attainable.”
To participate in the Copay it Forward, patients with most major insurances, Medicare or Medicaid need only use one of Metro’s partner pharmacies to fill their prescriptions. The program works with prescription delivery and pickup at locations throughout Tampa Bay, including CVS, Walgreens and AB Specialty Pharmacy.
For more information about Metro Inclusive Health, its Copay it Forward program and more, visit MetroTampaBay.org.
