The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and Tampa Bay Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) Medical Subspecialty Referral Program is a newly structured outpatient medical pipeline operating across the Tampa Bay grant region.

Clinical Point of Entry: Operating via its localized hubs, such as AHF St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor Healthcare Centers using specialized regional medical case management teams, AHF serves as the clinical starting point. Providers identify low-income, eligible patients requiring complex, outpatient specialty care and route them directly into the county-approved medical specialist infrastructure.

Funding Source
Primary Resource: Federally funded through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A Grant, which is specifically earmarked for Eligible Metropolitan Areas (EMAs) addressing high local geographic burdens of HIV.

Local Allocations: Administrative grant funding is managed at the county level to bridge gaps in medical care.

Administrative Oversight
Local Grantee: The Hillsborough County Government acts as the primary administrative recipient and fiscal agent managing the Part A contract and service network allocations across the Tampa Bay EMA. Contracted Provider: AHF administers localized outpatient clinical care, pharmacy services, and initial subspecialty clinical referral generation.

Regulatory Body
Federal Level: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Community Level: The Tampa Bay Ryan White Care Council and Hillsborough County Health Care Services which establishes local medical service priorities, clinical caps, and care delivery models.
Referral Loop

Intake: A patient undergoes mandatory verification through the local centralized eligibility pipeline to confirm identity, an HIV-positive diagnosis, low-to-moderate household income, and proof of residence within the EMA (Hillsborough or Pinellas counties).

Clinical Order: An AHF primary care physician evaluates the patient's advanced health needs during routine clinical tracking and logs a formal electronic subspecialty referral.

Authorization: The local administrative Third-Party Administrator (TPA) or county grant manager reviews the clinical request against the network’s available budget, existing procedure caps, and active primary health insurance guidelines.

Closing the Loop: The authorized outside medical specialist performs the consultation or diagnostic procedure, returning comprehensive clinical treatment notes to the originating AHF medical case manager or provider to maintain unbroken clinical care continuity.

Scope of Coverage
Inclusions: Outpatient diagnostic testing, physical exams, and complex specialty care provided by licensed physicians. This encompasses fields such as Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Oncology, Neurology, Gastroenterology, and Dermatology.

Exclusions: Emergency department visits, emergency trauma protocols, and inpatient hospitalizations. Cosmetic procedures or generic consults that are legally covered under standard primary care or existing private managed care plans are also excluded.

Mandate (Payer of Last Resort): In strict accordance with federal legislation, all Ryan White Part A allocations must operate as the payer of last resort. Funds are exclusively utilized for subspecialty care if the client is uninsured, underinsured, or has entirely exhausted Medicaid, Medicare, or private commercial health coverage.

Core Service Allocation: At least 75% of the total local Ryan White grant funding must be legally dedicated to Core Medical Services, which explicitly encompasses outpatient subspecialty physician care.

Proof of HIV Status: Lab report showing a positive HIV viral load, Western Blot, or a signed medical diagnosis form from a licensed Physician.

Proof of Residency: Utility bill, lease agreement, or official mail showing you live within the state or county service area (unhoused individuals can submit a letter from a shelter or caseworker.

Proof of Income: Recent Pay stubs, W-2 forms, tax returns, or a notarized letter of support showing your household income falls below the local limit.

Income limits in Florida: Your income cannot exceed the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Percentage of 400% $62920.

For Existing Patients of AHF Healthcare Centers (Safety Harbor or St. Petersburg, Florida)

Getting connected to a specialist is an organized, step-by-step process handled by your existing care team.

Talk to Your AHF Doctor: During your regular check-up, tell your doctor about any advanced medical issues you are having (like heart, nerve, skin, or stomach problems). Only your primary HIV doctor can officially trigger a specialist referral; you cannot self-refer.

Let the Clinic Team Handle the Paperwork: Once your doctor agrees you need a specialist, the clinic's referral coordinator will electronically submit a request to the county's Ryan White approval network. They will make sure the visit is fully covered before you go.

Book Your Appointment Fast: The clinic will notify you as soon as the county approves your specialist match. Call and schedule your appointment right away because these approvals come with strict expiration dates. If the referral expires, you will have to request a new one from your doctor.

Use Any AHF Pharmacy: Any medications prescribed by your approved outside specialist can be picked up or arranged for home delivery through the AHF Pharmacy network—including the pharmacy right inside the St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor clinic campuses.

Keep Your 6-Month Recertification Active: Your specialist coverage is tied to your main Ryan White account. You must complete your brief eligibility update with your AHF case manager every 6 months (verifying your local income and residency) or your specialist approvals will be paused.

For People Who Are NOT Patients of AHF Clinics:
If you are not currently a patient at an AHF clinic but live in Hillsborough or Pinellas County and need access to this specialized medical network, you must complete these baseline steps:

Call the Local Enrollment Office: You must first register with the Tampa Bay area's centralized Ryan White program. You can start this by contacting an approved enrollment agency or calling the local county health department to set up an intake interview.

Bring Your 4 Core Documents: To be approved for the program, you will meet with an intake worker and must show physical or digital proof of four things:

HIV Status: An official lab report or medical document confirming a positive diagnosis.

Identity: A valid government photo ID (like a driver's license or state ID).

Residency: A utility bill, lease, or official mail showing you live in Hillsborough or Pinellas County.
Income: Pay stubs or tax records proving your household income meets the local program requirements for assistance.

Pick Your Primary Medical Home (Healthcare Center): Once the county approves your paperwork, you get to choose where you want to go for your regular check-ups. You can choose to enroll as a permanent primary care patient at AHF Safety Harbor or St. Petersburg.

Get Your Baseline Exam: Attend your first scheduled intake appointment at your chosen AHF clinic. Your new primary doctor will do an initial health evaluation, order required baseline blood work, and set up your daily medications.

Get Your Subspecialty Referral: Once you are an official primary care patient at the clinic, your new AHF doctor can officially submit electronic referral paperwork to connect you to the broader Tampa Bay medical specialist network.