From Watermark Online:
Metro Inclusive Health has announced that the organization’s Copay it Forward program generated $755,107 in free healthcare for under or uninsured patients in Tampa Bay last year.
The program utilizes pharmaceutical copayments to provide for those in need at no additional cost to those who are insured. It was developed to channel “the power of insured patients to help eliminate barriers to quality healthcare by providing essential and often lifesaving services.”
“The quality of life in our community is intrinsically linked to access to healthcare,” Metro Inclusive Health Chief Marketing & Experience Officer Brian Bailey said in a press release. “With rising costs impacting every aspect of daily life, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure that healthcare remains accessible.
The Copay it Forward figure grew by nearly $95,000 in 2023, surpassing Metro’s 2022 total of $660,485. It was made possible by insured patients using “a designated partner pharmacy to fill their prescriptions,” allowing them to provide services at no cost from their St. Pete, Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, Seminole Heights and New Port Richey locations, in addition to mobile and telehealth.
Only patients receiving medical care from METRO who are insured with most major insurances — including Medicare and Medicaid — can participate in the initiative. They can utilize one of almost 60 partnered pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS or AB Specialty in Tampa Bay.
Metro also hopes Metro Inclusive Pharmacy, which the nonprofit introduced last year, will enhance their Copay it Forward program. Their goal is to raise over $755,000 in 2024, a year that began with the organization’s significant redistribution of operations.
