SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                             Current Report pursuant
                          to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 17, 2005


                       METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                                     Florida
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


         0-28456                                      65-0635748
(Commission file number)                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                     250 Australian Avenue South, Suite 400
                           West Palm Beach, Fl. 33401
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (561) 805-8500
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Item 8.01   Other Events

On March 17, 2005,  Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. (the "Company") announced
that its wholly owned subsidiary,  METCARE Health Plans,  Inc., has successfully
submitted  its  application  with the Centers for  Medicare & Medicaid  Services
(CMS) to participate in the Medicare Advantage program.  Upon approval from CMS,
it is expected  that METCARE  Health Plans will be awarded a contract  with CMS.
The CMS contract would entitle METCARE Health Plans to receive federal monies to
offer a Medicare  Advantage  HMO Plan to Medicare  beneficiaries  located in its
approved markets.

In addition,  Metropolitan  announced that it has expanded its intended Medicare
Advantage  HMO market area to include  Charlotte,  Sarasota  and Lee Counties on
Florida's  west coast.  These  markets are being added to Martin,  St. Lucie and
Okeechobee Counties on Florida's eastern Treasure Coast.

A  copy  of the  Company's  press  release  announcing  the  filing  of the  CMS
application  is attached  hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is  incorporated  herein by
reference

Item 9.01   Exhibits

99.1  Press Release dated March 17, 2005.




                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Company  has duly  caused  this  report to be  signed on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  March 21, 2005


                                        METROPOLITAN HEALTH NETWORKS, INC.


                                        By: /s/ Roberto L. Palenzuela
                                           -------------------------------------
                                        Name:  Roberto L. Palenzuela
                                        Title: General Counsel and Secretary



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1  Press Release dated March 17, 2005