Expires 08/01/2021

Specialty Pharmacy

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Alto Pharmacy Technician

Alto Pharmacist

At Alto, we’re obsessed withour missionto improve quality of life for everyone who needs the help of medicine. Our mission guides us in all we do and every decision we make. 

Services that reduce travel and encourage social distancing are now more essential than ever, not only for vulnerable populations but all of us as members of our communities. Alto’s free same-day doorstep delivery ensures you have safe and reliable access to medications in this time of uncertainty. 

Hear first-hand from members of the Alto technology teams.

Alto / Blog

It’s official: Alto Pharmacy is a great place to work! We’re honored to join the community of Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies.

Alto Pharmacy Named Great Place to Work

It’s official: Alto Pharmacy is a great place to work! We’re honored to join the community of Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies based on team member feedback and a rigorous assessment of our company’s culture and benefits. This important recognition is a testament to the dedication of the entire Alto team and the vision of our founders to create a healthcare company truly anchored on the needs and experiences of the customer.

80% of our team says that Alto is a great place of work, compared to just 59% of employees at  other companies that participated in this year’s assessment. Here are other key takeaways from our team’s’ responses:

93% of our team members say that you are made to feel welcome when you join Alto.

88% say that people care about each other here.

86% say that they are able to take time off from work when needed.

Every company has its own unique culture, but there are two things that all great workplaces share: trust in company leadership and a strong sense of pride in the work. For many Alto team members, being part of a mission-driven company is one of the best parts of working here. 

Our mission — to improve the quality of life for everyone who needs medicine — guides us in every business decision, every day. From fostering an inclusive culture that invests in talent from the same communities as our patients, to building a pharmacy model that meets individuals where they are in their health journey, everything we do at Alto is anchored on delivering meaningful change. 

When asked what makes Alto a great place to work, our team members emphasized our guiding company values — including our commitment to putting patients first and leading with empathy — and getting to spend each workday with colleagues who are also inspired and motivated by those values.

“Our bold, patient-centered mission creates a powerful level of empathy across the entire team,” shared Rob Anderson, Alto’s Head of Talent . “The people who work here are one of the best parts of coming into work, and one of the top reasons our workplace is so rewarding.”

It’s an exciting moment to be part of Alto’s mission. Since our founding in 2015, we’ve been focused on delivering a totally new model of pharmacy care. Our community-based, courier-first pharmacy model simplifies the entire prescription process and is tailored to each patient’s unique needs, leading to better  outcomes, healthier lives, and happier customers. And with every year, Alto’s impact continues to grow:

More than 36 million individuals now live within Alto’s free same-day courier service zones. 

In the past twelve months, we opened new locations in New York City, Houston, Dallas, and San Jose and expanded our coverage areas in Seattle, Las Vegas, and Denver. 

We've expanded our specialized resources for patients living with diabetes and managing heart and lung conditions .

We’ve accomplished so much over the past six years, and we’re still just getting started.

“I don’t know a single person who hasn’t needed something from a pharmacy at some point, and there’s still so many people across the country who have yet to experience our unique community pharmacy experience,” Alto’s Recruiting Manager Lauren Binet said. “That potential for impact is incredibly motivating.”

As our geographic footprint has grown, so has our team. In the past two years alone, we’ve quadruped our team to more than 1,000 Altoids!

Be Part of a Great Place to Work — Join Our Team

Join us in delivering our industry-leading pharmacy care to millions of people across the country. As a member of the team, you’ll play an integral role in improving our customers’ quality of life and redefining what’s possible in pharmacy.

View open roles in design, engineering, IT, sales, patient care, and more.

About Great Place to Work Certification™

Great Place to Work® Certification™ is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience – specifically, how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place to Work-Certified.

All third party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by Alto Pharmacy remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, Alto’s use of third party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship or endorsement between Alto and the owners of these trademarks.

Learn more about the United State Preventative Service Task Force’s Grade "A" recommendation and what it means for your access to PrEP.

What a USPSTF “A” Recommendation Means for PrEP Access

With a Grade A recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), PrEP — an HIV prevention medication that can lower risk of sexual transmission by 99% when taken daily — is now more accessible than ever. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurance plans must cover preventive services with an “A” or “B” recommendation from the USPSTF without copays or deductibles. This means that at least one PrEP option will be available at no cost to qualifying individuals on these plans. 

PrEP’s 2019 Grade A recommendation from the USPSTF was implemented this year. Below, we explain more about the Task Force’s recommendation and what it means for your access to PrEP.

The Importance of Preventive Services and the USPSTF

Preventive care — including medications like PrEP, cancer screenings, immunizations, and more — saves lives. These services can prevent serious diseases or detect them early on, when they are more treatable. It’s critical that doctors understand the effectiveness of these screenings and treatments, and the US Preventive Services Task Force was created to fill that need.

The USPSTF is an independent group of prevention experts whose evidence-based evaluations help healthcare providers make informed recommendations for their patients. The Task Force’s membership has expertise in a range of specialties under the umbrella of primary care and preventive medicine, including internal medicine, behavioral health, obstetrics and gynecology, and more. They assign each recommendation an A, B, C, or D grade or an I statement. Here’s what each recommendation means:

“A” Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends the service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is substantial.

“B” Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends the service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial.

“C” Recommendation: Clinicians may provide this service to selected patients depending on individual circumstances. However, for most individuals without signs or symptoms there is likely to be only a small benefit from this service.

“D” Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends against the service. There is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit or that the harms outweigh the benefits.

“I” Statement: The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of the service. Evidence is lacking, of poor quality, or conflicting, and the balance of benefits and harms cannot be determined.

Since preventive services are recommended based on a person’s level of risk for a specific disease or condition, there is variation in individual preventive needs. Your primary care provider will recommend screenings and medications depending upon factors like your family history, age, current health status, and more.

With PrEP, the “A” rating and related insurance coverage applies to individuals who are HIV-negative but at high risk of getting HIV from contracting the virus. That includes:

People whose partner is HIV-positive or unsure of their HIV status

The Affordable Care Act and USPSTF Recommendations

Millions of people in the US don’t receive critical, and often life-saving, preventive services. For many, cost is a big barrier. A 2020 study found that 1 in 3 US families postponed medical care services because of the financial strain. And according to the American Journal of Public Health, in the case of PrEP, fewer than 10% of people who could benefit from the medication are taking it.

The Affordable Care Act provision requiring private insurers to cover Grade “A” and “B” preventive services without copays or deductibles was designed to alleviate this financial burden. The Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) oversees the implementation of law provisions related to private health insurance, and private insurers have a responsibility to monitor USPSTF recommendations and remain compliant with requirements.

While the new provision is a big step forward for HIV prevention, getting the specific brand of PrEP medication you need may require some additional legwork.

There are several FDA-approved medication options for PrEP: Truvada®, Descovy®, and a generic for Truvada, which became available in October 2020. Truvada and Descovy are both effective at preventing HIV, but they are not identical. Some people may need one version over the other due to preexisting health issues. However, the ACA’s provision only requires health plans to cover at least one of the available PrEP options without copays or deductibles.

Government plans including Medicaid typically cover brand-name PrEP medication while most private insurance companies will cover generic PrEP. If your doctor has prescribed a specific brand of PrEP medication not covered by your insurance, a request for coverage may be required. 

This is called a prior authorization. Alto’s dedicated support team can help you understand the details of your insurance plan and will coordinate closely with your doctor’s office on filing prior authorizations to help you get the medication you need. Call us directly at 1-800-874-5881 to confirm coverage.

Too often, preventive services are inaccessible to those without insurance. Thankfully, patient assistance programs for PrEP help make the medication more affordable for those who are uninsured. For example, Truvada’s manufacturer, Gilead, has a Medical Assistance Program for people without insurance, in addition to a copay card for those with insurance.

Alto will automatically conduct a thorough price investigation to identify these potential sources of financial assistance and ensure you're getting the lowest possible price. We also carry a generic PrEP option that currently runs at $36.60 a month out of pocket.*

Read more about PrEP access and affordability.

Get the PrEP medication you need at the best possible price

Getting PrEP at the most affordable price shouldn’t be a hassle. At Alto, our team will do the research for you and coordinate with your doctor’s office and your insurance provider to ensure that you’re receiving the best medication option. Our pharmacists have deep expertise in many clinical areas, including patients living with HIV, and those taking PrEP, PEP and HRT medications.

Adherence support with pharmacist lab reminders

Discrete, private packaging and free, same-day delivery

Med syncing support and in-app reminders to stay on track

Pharmacists directly available through phone, text or within the Alto app

We’re hard at work the moment we receive your prescription, handling insurance and prior authorizations, as well as making sure you get your medicine, at the best price, delivered at no additional cost. Reach out any time to get started via text or phone at 1-800-874-5881, or in-app messaging.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

It’s okay, and very understandable, to feel overwhelmed after a diabetes diagnosis, or to wonder, what now? This guide from Alto Pharmacy offers a starting point as you build a strong foundation of information.

New diabetes diagnosis? Here’s what to know.

A diabetes diagnosis marks the beginning of a new health journey that involves some significant changes to your routine. Insulin and blood sugar tests become a part of your day-to-day life, not to mention all of the new insurance terminology related to diabetes medications. 

It’s okay, and very understandable, to feel overwhelmed after a diagnosis, or to wonder, what now? When dealing with any challenge, it’s important to take everything one step at a time. Diabetes is no different. The journey will likely feel much more manageable once you’re familiar with the key terms and have a good grasp of your diabetes pharmacy needs. The guide below offers a starting point as you build a strong foundation of information.

Diabetes Pharmacy 101: Key Insurance Terms

Diabetes treatment involves coordination with your doctor’s office, your insurance provider, and your pharmacy. You’ll probably start to hear the following terms as you work closely with each of them.

A flat amount set by your insurance plan that you are required to pay for healthcare services, procedures and treatments, including prescriptions. These amounts can vary based on the type of service and whether your doctor is considered in-network with your insurance plan. For example, you may have a copay of $30 for your doctor visit, $20 for one kind of prescription, and $50 for another type of prescription.

Many manufacturers of diabetes medications and supplies make their treatments more affordable through coupons, rebates, savings cards, trial offers, and free samples. Some of these savings options require you to register with the manufacturer (often on a website) or receive the coupons or samples directly from your doctor. You will generally need to do your own research to understand what savings options are available for the medications or supplies you’ve been prescribed. Alto automatically conducts thorough price investigations to identify potential savings.

Sometimes an insurance plan decides that they won’t cover the cost of a treatment, procedure, or medication. This is called a denial. These are some of the common reasons for it:

Your insurance plan doesn’t believe the requested treatment is medically necessary

The requested treatment is considered experimental

There are typos or errors on the insurance claim

The requesting doctor is out of network for your plan

A referral or prior authorization is required

At Alto, we’ll look into the reasons for a denial and work with your doctor to either process an appeal or find covered alternatives.

If you are prescribed an insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor (CGM), or need supplies like test strips, they will likely be covered under the Durable Medical equipment (DME) section of your policy. There may be restrictions on the brands or suppliers that are available.

Formulary, also called a Drug List or Formulary List

A list of prescription medications that your insurance plan will cover, including both brand name and generic options. They will be grouped by tier. Tier 1 usually includes generic medications and will have the lowest out-of-pocket costs. As you move up the formulary’s tiers, the costs will increase. If your prescription is not on the formulary at all, that means it is not covered by your insurance plan. 

Formularies can change as part of your annual insurance renewal. For example, your previous type of insulin may be in a different tier on the plan’s updated formulary, meaning you’ll pay more out-of-pocket to stay on that particular brand. Read our previous post on insurance changes to look out for when renewing your plan.

Insurance companies generally consider a treatment plan to be medically necessary when it follows accepted clinical guidelines and practice. To determine this, your insurer is likely considering whether the proposed treatment is:

Clinically appropriate in terms of type and frequency

Generally considered effective given the diagnosis

Not more costly than other options that are likely to produce the same result

Not selected just for convenience to you or your doctor

Patient Assistance Programs, also called PAPs or Diabetes Care Programs, are financial assistance programs created and managed by the manufacturers of diabetes medications and supplies. These programs are intended for people without insurance or when copays are prohibitively expensive. Keep in mind that these types of discount programs may result in your medication costs not counting toward your insurance plan’s deductible. Alto will search for these potential sources of financial assistance as part of our price investigation and ensure you’re getting the lowest possible price.

Not all diabetes medications and procedures will be covered by the same sections of your insurance plan — most plans have separate medical and pharmacy benefits. Medical benefits are usually used to pay for the professional services your doctor’s office provides, a hospital stay, or medically-necessary labs and tests. Pharmacy benefits are used to pay for most prescription diabetes medications, including self-administered oral and injectable medications. 

Many commonly prescribed devices, like Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), will fall under different categories. For example, FreeStyle Libre® and Dexcom® may be billed as either pharmacy or medical benefits; and Medtronic Guardian™ is only billed as DME.

Prior Authorizations, also called a Pre-Authorization

Not all healthcare services and prescriptions are considered equal by your insurance plan. If the requested devices or procedures are more expensive, experimental, or new to market, your insurance plan may require you to complete a prior authorization before they will agree to cover the treatment. These forms provide the insurance plan with information from your doctor about why the proposed treatment option or medication is appropriate or necessary. For example, you and your doctor may need to complete a prior authorization to explain why your insulin pump or CGM is medically necessary and provide supporting documentation from your medical records.

After reviewing the documentation, your insurance company will approve or deny the request.  If approved, you will be able to receive the requested treatment (although there may be specific instructions in the approval about how you obtain the care, e.g. by using a specific physician, pharmacy or other supplier). If your prior authorization is denied, you will work with your doctor to determine if you should appeal the decision or pursue a different course of treatment.

Alto’s dedicated support team will coordinate closely with your doctor’s office on filing prior authorizations to help you get the diabetes medications and supplies you need.

Common Issues With Insurance Coverage of Diabetes Medications

Your insurance plan may limit the number of test strips you can purchase in a specific time period, though it may be possible for you to apply for an exception.

If you haven’t previously used an insulin pump or CGM, your plan will likely require a prior authorization. They may also require you to start on an older version of the device with fewer features.

Patch pumps may be covered under pharmacy benefits or DME benefits.

Your plan may designate where you can purchase pump or CGM supplies; some will allow you to purchase directly from the manufacturer. 

Check your plan’s DME policy for more details.

What to Look For in a Diabetes Pharmacy Partner

Having a reliable pharmacy partner is especially important with a condition like diabetes, which involves a learning curve with medications and supplies and frequent communication with insurance. We recommend looking for a pharmacy that has significant expertise in diabetes care. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you explore your diabetes pharmacy options.

Does the pharmacy offer free delivery of your medications and on-demand pharmacist guidance for injections?

Does it understand the temperature-controlled needs of insulin? Does it store and package the medications correctly?

Can it help you navigate your insurance benefits, assist with prior authorizations when needed, and connect you with DME suppliers if appropriate?

As you navigate life with diabetes, it’s important to feel surrounded by support. If a pharmacy meets the criteria above, you’re more likely to feel like there’s always someone in your corner.

We’re here to provide exceptional diabetes care

At Alto, we understand how stressful it can be to get started with diabetes medications and coordinate with insurance. That’s why we have a dedicated team for support with diabetes. We offer free same-day delivery of medications and supplies right to your doorstep, and we handle everything behind the scenes, too, from investigating cost-saving opportunities to submitting prior authorizations and more.

Get started or learn more about Alto by reaching out at any time via text or phone at 1-800-874-5881, or in-app messaging.

New Diabetes Diagnosis? Here’s What to Know

Here’s a quick overview on PrEP access and affordability in light of recent updates.

Getting PrEP for HIV prevention at an affordable cost

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medicine that prevents people who are HIV-negative but at high risk of getting HIV from contracting the virus. If you have a partner who is HIV-positive or unsure of their HIV status, or if you have multiple partners, PrEP may be right for you. It also reduces HIV risk in those using intravenous drugs. If taken daily, it lowers the risk of getting HIV from sex and intravenous drug use by about 99% and 74%, respectively.

Cost can be a barrier to starting PrEP, but the life-saving medication is now more accessible than ever, thanks to the recent arrival of generic options and changes to private insurance coverage. Still, given the complexities of navigating healthcare, getting PrEP at the best cost may require a bit of legwork and some familiarity with the landscape. Here’s a quick overview on PrEP access and affordability in light of the recent updates.

There are two FDA-approved medications for PrEP: Truvada® and Descovy®. A generic for Truvada called Emtricitabine/Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate became available in October 2020. 

In general, as more generic options become available, the additional competition typically drives down the price of all options, which is already the case with generic Truvada: a 30-day supply of the brand-name version comes out to $1600-1800, while Alto carries a generic option that currently runs at $36.60 a month out of pocket.

Given that generic medications can cost 85% less than their brand-name equivalents, it’s understandable to wonder if the cost disparity is a reflection of quality. Rest assured that generic Truvada is therapeutically equivalent to the brand-name version: generic medications use the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts, and they must meet the same standards for safety, quality, and results in order to get FDA approval.

Read the difference between generic and brand-name medications.

Patient Assistance Programs for Brand-Name PrEP

Despite the equivalent nature of generic and brand-name PrEP, your doctor may choose to prescribe a brand version instead of a generic option for various reasons. If that’s the case, there are resources to help reduce the cost of brand-name PrEP. Patient assistance programs have helped many people access these medications at a low cost or even for free. 

For example, Gilead, the manufacturer of brand-name Truvada, has the Gilead Advancing Access® program, which offers a copay card for those with insurance and a Medical Assistance Program for those who are uninsured. Alto will automatically conduct a thorough price investigation to identify these potential sources of financial assistance and ensure you're getting the lowest possible price.

Most private insurers are now required to cover at least one PrEP option

As of this January, most private insurance plans must cover PrEP for HIV prevention without charging any out-of-pocket costs. PrEP has received an “A” recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task force, and as such, it must be covered by most private health insurance plans without copays or deductibles.

However, getting approval for a specific brand of PrEP medication may require some additional legwork. The law requires health plans to cover at least one of the available PrEP options without copays or deductibles. That means if your private insurer covers the generic version of Truvada but you need the brand-name version — or vice versa — you’ll need to go through an additional approval process called a prior authorization. This is a request to your insurance company for coverage of certain medications.

After the arrival of generic Truvada, several insurance companies have decided to stop covering Descovy. While these two forms of PrEP are both effective at preventing HIV, they are not identical. Some people may need one version over the other for preexisting health issues. In these cases, you may need prior authorization approval and could potentially face higher out-of-pocket costs. Alto’s dedicated support team will coordinate closely with your doctor’s office on filing prior authorizations to avoid delays with starting PrEP.

Check your formulary for a breakdown of your plan’s PrEP coverage

Every health insurance plan has a list of covered drugs, called a formulary, which you can locate online or by calling your plan. This is where you can find details about which PrEP medications your plan covers. If a medication isn’t on your “open” formulary, you may have the option of submitting a prior authorization. On the other hand, if you have a “closed” formulary, a prior authorization won’t be approved. Your pharmacy can let you know about your options and whether you have an “open” or “closed” formulary.

One thing to be mindful of is that formularies can change as part of insurance renewals every year. When this happens, an insurance plan can request you to switch from one brand to another, or to a generic version. You may want to ask your healthcare provider if there’s a cheaper version of your medication available. If you fill your prescription with Alto, we’ll do the investigating for you and keep you updated on your best options.

Read our previous post on insurance changes to look out for when renewing your plan.

Get the medication you need without delay

At Alto, we believe that financial wellness plays an important role in your overall well-being. We go above and beyond to ensure that we’re providing the most affordable option, so that you can stay on track with the plan your doctor recommends. We’re here to help you understand which PrEP options your insurance covers, and we’ll do the legwork to make sure you get the lowest possible price.

Switch to a better pharmacy for insurance support, price investigations, and same-day delivery. Feel free to reach out any time via text or phone at 1-800-874-5881, or in-app messaging.

Getting PrEP for HIV Prevention at an Affordable Cost

In recognition of Women’s History Month, we highlight four women at Alto shaping the future of pharmacy. These leaders share their advice for women in the workplace, their unique super powers, and what they appreciate most about Alto's culture.

Celebrating Women at Alto Pharmacy

Liz Kelly, National Sales Manager Fertility 

I'm responsible for hiring, coaching and supporting the needs of the national fertility sales team. I also work closely with fertility business and operations teams to deliver on our clinic and customer promises.

Before joining Alto, I was finishing up a sabbatical where I spent my time volunteering on the board of a non-profit called ServeHAITI. Prior to that, I was the West Coast Area Business Director at EMD Serono and worked with Matt and Jaime [Alto’s co-founders] to secure a contract to distribute fertility meds when they were still working out of AG Pharmacy!

What do you appreciate the most about Alto's culture? 

Hands down my favorite part of being on the Alto team is that the patient is truly at the center of every decision we make. I value that we make business decisions with our mission in mind.

What do you like doing outside of work?  

Of late, my favorite pastime is heading to the dog beach with my rescue, Bodhi, who has been the best medicine to ease some of the COVID-19 isolation I experienced over the past year. Before the pandemic, I made sure to travel to at least one new international spot a year. I love the experience of getting exposed to all things about another culture: cuisine, culture, belief systems, language.

I like to think that my super power is seeing the greatness in others, sometimes before they see it in themselves.

I aspire to live by the motto "be the change you wish to see in the world." I encourage women to speak up for what they believe is right, even if nobody else agrees. That includes planning for your own career path and making it a priority to develop your skill sets so that you are prepared to climb the ladder that serves your own greatness.

I graduated from pharmacy school in May of 1979 and started working at AG Pharmacy after passing my boards later that year. I bought AG in 1998 when the previous owner wanted to retire - he had been with AG since it first opened in the early 60's.

My family moved to San Francisco from Hong Kong when I was five years old. Our story is one similar to those of many immigrant families who came to America looking for a better life in search of the American dream: own a home, have a car, raise children safely and give them the opportunity of a good education and a chance to have a better life. My parents raised their children here, emphasizing family, hard work and education. They lived their American dream, and I have them to thank for all that I am today.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work? 

I love to travel. There are so many unique places to visit in this world. With the different cultures, the food, and the amazing sceneries/landscapes, there are endless things to see and experience! 

The thing I appreciate most about Alto's culture is that everyone works so hard together to bring about the best pharmacy experience for all our customers. You can feel the energy and the motivation of all the Altoids. I cannot emphasize how amazing it is to be a part of this team and to watch Alto grow and evolve into the pharmacy of the future and the pharmacy of our dreams!

What’s your favorite memory thus far at Alto? 

In the very early days, when Alto was still Scriptdash Pharmacy, a customer needed to get her trigger shot [as part of a fertility protocol] within the next few hours. It was close to rush hour, and we had no couriers available to deliver to the South Bay. Our CEO Matt came to the rescue on his motorcycle, and off he went to make the delivery. It was such a wonderful and warm feeling to watch and cheer him on together. That is truly what Alto love is all about!

I manage our amazing IT Support team, helping all Altoids get the technology support they need, when they need it. 

For the better part of the last decade I have been managing IT Support teams. From Facebook and Twitter to Lyft and Uber, I’ve seen it all (or at least most of it!).

Our incredible dedication to our mission. In my short time here, I truly see us putting patients first, and it’s moving to see. 

What do you like doing outside of work? 

I’m a big traveler, but since COVID-19 has put a damper on that, I enjoy flying around Colorado with my partner in our vintage Beechcraft Bonanza. I also love hopping on my motorcycle and just exploring! 

I’m in love with Central and Eastern Europe. Some of my favorite places are Prague, Vienna and Budapest. 

Elnaz Moshfeghian, Senior Engineering Manager

I’m originally from Iran but moved a lot growing up, including Oklahoma, Australia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Chicago. I have been in San Francisco for the last six years. I stumbled across software engineering in college and found a passion for building products and teams. I joined Alto as the third engineer and this is now the largest company I’ve ever worked at. 

I lead a group of 20 engineers across three teams. Two teams are focused on getting prescriptions ready to schedule quickly and accurately, and one is focused on enabling faster, higher quality, and more enjoyable product development across the broader product and technology organization. My work involves a lot of collaboration, creativity, transparency, and flexibility. 

I was an early software engineer at a small startup; before that I was a hybrid software engineer and product manager at a design and development studio. 

I like how passionate everyone is about what they do. 

I’m at my best managing a crisis or finding a path through conflicting strong opinions. 

I want to start with some advice for our allies: get more curious about the experience of the women you work with and learn about ways you can support and amplify the work of the women around you. Diversity, equality and inclusion is a team sport and, even if we win a game or two, it’s about the continuous pursuit of excellence. 

For my fellow women at Alto, I wish I knew earlier to focus more on improving my craft and impact so I can get a seat at the table, rather than trying to juggle advocacy and my own work. Once you’re at the table, you can really advocate for hiring, growing, and retaining women. 

To learn more about the work of our six employee resource groups (ERG’s) focused on building community - including Umoja (Black), Auténtico (LatinX/Hispanic), Women (WOAA), Proud (LGBTQIA+), Asian/Pacific Islander, and Working Parents - read our 2020 Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Report. 

Are you passionate about shaping the future of pharmacy? Join us as we deliver our industry-leading pharmacy care to millions of Americans. 

Alto Pharmacy is recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Startup Employers in 2021, ranking 13th among 60 healthcare startups.

Alto Pharmacy Announced as One of Forbes Best Startup Employers

After discovering that half of all prescriptions aren’t even picked up—resulting in 125,000 avoidable deaths every year—we set out to build a new kind of pharmacy that focuses on the person behind every prescription.

Here at Alto, we’re transforming a $500 billion industry by reinventing what a pharmacy can do—from hand-delivering medications for free to offering on-call help by text or chat. Our customers are at the center of everything we do, and it shows. After delivering more than one million prescriptions, we have an NPS score of 86 and over a thousand five-star reviews on Yelp.

In addition to delivering a better pharmacy experience for everyone who needs medicine, we’re committed to cultivating a better workplace for for our team, every day. That’s why we’re honored to be recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Startup Employers in 2021, ranking 13th among 60 healthcare startups. Inclusion on the list was based on professional reputation, employee satisfaction, and growth, among other criteria. 

This accolade follows several others in recent months including LinkedIn’s Top Startups in 2020 and San Francisco Business Times Largest Bay Area Digital Health Companies in 2020. In addition, Alto’s CEO, Matt Gamache-Asselin, recently received recognition as one of The Top 25 Consumer Health Tech Executives of 2020 by The Healthcare Technology Report. 

“We have a lot to be proud of in the past year, especially in light of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic,” shared Gamache-Asselin. “I’m so proud of the hard work and commitment exhibited by every member of our team in providing exceptional pharmacy care in our communities. As we continue to expand our services to more and more people, we’ll also be growing our team of incredibly knowledgeable and caring professionals.”

Are you passionate about shaping the future of pharmacy? Join us as we  deliver our industry-leading pharmacy care to millions of Americans. 

For the full employers list and an overview of the selection methodology, head to the Forbes site. .

Alto Pharmacy Announced as One of Forbes Best Startup Employers 

Forbes 2021 America's best startup employers

Starting Friday, March 12, residents of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metro area can now choose Alto’s same-day doorstep delivery for their pharmacy needs.

Hello, Dallas-Fort Worth!

Alto’s launch in the Dallas-Fort Worth market extends our industry-leading patient care model to even more Texans. 

Starting Friday, March 12, residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area can now choose Alto’s same-day doorstep delivery for their pharmacy needs. 

At Alto, we believe it’s our job to ensure you have your medications at the best price, on time and with the support you need. We bring pharmacy to you - no more waiting in line, making an extra trip, or finding out your prescription isn’t ready to be picked up after you’ve already arrived. Our free doorstep delivery means your medications come directly to you on the day and time you select, and most medications are available the same-day. Stay up to date on your courier’s progress with text alerts or in our mobile app. 

Starting a new medication or doing an injection for the first time? Message a pharmacist with your questions, even in the evenings and on weekends. And we’re a full service pharmacy - we stock all major brand, generic, over-the-counter and specialty medications, meaning your entire family’s pharmacy needs can be managed in the Alto app and coordinated into one delivery.

Courier delivery windows
Monday - Friday: 6 - 9 pm CT
Saturday - Sunday: 2 - 5 pm CT

Walk-in hours
Monday - Friday: 9 am – 7 pm CT
Saturday - Sunday: 10 am - 5:30 pm CT

Dallas-Fort Worth residents interested in using Alto’s services for their medication needs can ask their doctor’s office to send all prescriptions to Alto Pharmacy (via ePrescribe, phone or fax). 

Have existing prescriptions at another pharmacy? Start a transfer online or give us a call at 1 (800) 874-5881, and we’ll handle the switch. 

Need to pick up? Our pharmacy is located at 475 State Highway 121, Suite 150, in Lewisville.

General customer support hours are Monday - Friday 9 am - 11 pm CT and Saturday - Sunday 10 am - 7 pm CT. Patients can reach out to Alto via phone/text at 1 (800) 874-5881, email or app.

Founded in 2015, Alto is a patient-centric digital pharmacy based committed to the health and wellbeing of you and your family. We provide free same-day delivery to your door seven days a week for prescriptions, but, more importantly, offer cost transparency, personalized in-app and phone support, and real-time coordination with doctors and insurance companies to get you the care that you need. Alto is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver and currently delivers across the greater Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, New York City, Houston and Dallas.

Starting Wednesday, February 24, New York City residents can now choose Alto’s same-day doorstep delivery for all of their pharmacy needs. 

Hello, New York City!

Alto extends beyond fertility medication support to offer full-service pharmacy operations in New York City.

Starting today, Wednesday, February 24, New York City residents can now choose Alto’s same-day doorstep delivery for all of their pharmacy needs. 

Courier delivery windows
Monday - Friday: 

3 - 5 pm ET for Manhattan to 125th St, 3 - 6 pm ET full service area 

6 - 8 pm ET for Manhattan to 125th St, 6 - 9 pm ET full service area

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Switch to a better pharmacy.