Metro Healthy Communities Awarded Full Federally Qualified Health Center Designation
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – October 5, 2026 – Metro Healthy Communities (METRO) announced today that it has been awarded full Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). METRO was selected as one of just four new organizations in Florida, and the only new organization in the Tampa Bay region, to receive this designation. The award is part of a $102 million national New Access Points (NAP) investment announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand the Health Center Program and bring primary care to nearly 1 million more Americans nationwide.
The NAP award process is highly competitive, and full FQHC status is widely regarded as one of the most coveted designations a community health organization can receive. It brings a range of substantial benefits to METRO, including direct federal funding to support day-to-day operations, medical malpractice coverage through the federal government, and greater access to grants aimed at improving health outcomes across the Tampa Bay area. The designation also unlocks additional funding to support operations and services for METRO’s most vulnerable patients, and further strengthens METRO’s flagship Copay It Forward™ program, which has now reinvested more than $4 million in community-funded healthcare support since its 2018 launch.
“Full FQHC status is one of the most significant milestones in METRO’s 30-plus year history,” said Priya Rajkumar, CEO of Metro Healthy Communities. “Being selected as one of only four new organizations in Florida to receive this designation is a powerful validation of our team’s work and our community’s trust in us. It strengthens nearly every part of how we operate.”
METRO’s FQHC designation also builds on its reputation for delivering some of the most advanced HIV care in Tampa Bay by fully integrating primary care and HIV care under one roof for the best possible patient outcomes. HIV-positive patients receiving care at METRO achieve a 92% viral suppression rate, well above the state rate of 70% and national rate of 68.5%. METRO also offers same-day STI testing results at two locations, along with same-day access to HIV/STI prevention services, including PrEP, nPEP, and DoxyPEP, in about one hour.
As part of this award, METRO will open a new health center access point in Port Richey, Pasco County, extending its reach to even more residents in need of affordable, high-quality care. The expansion will also support a third Metro Inclusive Pharmacy location planned for the Pasco area, joining METRO’s existing pharmacies in St. Petersburg and Tampa in offering free prescription delivery and expanded copay assistance, while powering the Copay It Forward™ program.
METRO first became an FQHC Look-Alike in April 2020 and has since built a track record of consistent, exceptional HRSA site visits and improving patient outcomes. With nine health centers across St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, and New Port Richey, and more than 100 programs and services, METRO’s new FQHC status positions the organization to expand its impact across the Tampa Bay region for years to come.
About Metro Healthy Communities
Metro Healthy Communities (METRO) is a nonprofit community health organization that has served the Tampa Bay region for more than 30 years. A Federally Qualified Health Center, METRO operates nine health centers in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, and New Port Richey and offers more than 100 programs and services, including primary care, HIV care and prevention, STI testing and treatment, and Metro Inclusive Pharmacy. Through its Copay It Forward™ program, METRO has reinvested more than $4 million in community-funded healthcare support since 2018.
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Website: https://metrotampabay.org
