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October is American Pharmacist Month, a time to celebrate the critical role that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play within healthcare.

Celebrating American Pharmacist Month At Alto

October just might be our favorite month of the year, and for a good reason: it’s American Pharmacist Month, a time to celebrate the critical role that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play within healthcare.

Pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare professionals, seeing people 5 to 8 times more frequently per year than primary care providers. And as such, they are integral to your overall health and well-being. 

You may not realize all the responsibilities that a pharmacist’s role encompasses. In addition to filling your prescriptions, they also educate on medication usage, advocate for changes that improve care, and problem solve clinical, ethical, managerial, economic, and legal compliance issues, becoming a trusted resource to the individuals they care for. Extensive training and education are required to enter the profession: a pharmacist must earn a doctorate in Pharmacy and complete state-specific licensing requirements before becoming licensed to practice pharmacy.

At many traditional retail pharmacies, each pharmacist is expected to tackle a broad assortment of tasks that often leave them feeling overwhelmed and stressed, like managing transactions for customers, answering questions about where non-pharmacy items are stocked, and contacting insurance companies on top of ensuring prescriptions are dispensed properly and safely. At Alto, however, pharmacists align with one of several practice areas — fulfillment, customer care, and onboarding — so that they are able to focus on specific aspects of pharmacist practice and deliver exceptional care to Alto’s customers.

Fulfillment pharmacists are responsible for inventory management, medication preparation, physical quality checks, and dispensing, all to make sure the right medication arrives at your door, on schedule. Our customer care pharmacists review prescriptions for accuracy and for potential complications with other medications on file; provide individualized consultations on dosing, side effects and other concerns; and partner with healthcare providers on clinical recommendations. And our onboarding pharmacists — a relatively new role at Alto — are a bridge to an individual's broader team, supporting healthcare providers and ensuring continuity of care between prescriber and pharmacy.

“At Alto, we are proud of our customer-focused services and forward-thinking means of providing those services,” shares Ashley Lee, Onboarding Pharmacist. “Being a pharmacist at Alto gives me the unique opportunity to not only practice patient care, but also to design it to be meaningful to as many individuals in need as possible. The innovation never stops here at Alto.”

How Alto pharmacists serve our communities

There’s no shortage of opportunities for a pharmacist to support an individual with their medication needs or to be a partner in their health journey alongside their doctor’s office, family and other support networks. Here are just a few of the many roles that Alto pharmacists fulfill.

Literally. Our pharmacists are educators who mentor other pharmacists-in-training. Sandra Aziz, Pharmacy Compliance Program and Training Manager, is responsible for training new Pharmacy Managers and Supervisors at our dispensing sites, ensuring they have the resources needed to be effective managers and to oversee their pharmacy location’s compliance program and daily operations.

Sandra also manages our internship programs for pharmacy students. Alto offers an immersive 10-week Pharmacy Operations Management summer internship program for eligible students at Howard University’s School of Pharmacy (HUCOP). The program provides an opportunity to gain a breadth of experience across clinical pharmacy care, operations, and business development. Students also have the opportunity to actively influence Alto’s software development and implement ideas that further preventative healthcare and pharmacist involvement in community health.

Sandra also launched our Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) programs, which allow students from pharmacy schools across the country to select Alto as a practice site. While at Alto, they are exposed to highly skilled and entrepreneurial pharmacists, engineers, and operations experts with whom they can partner to challenge, reinvent, and improve pharmacy. 

“It’s been really rewarding to see more pharmacy students expressing interest in our programs,” Sandra said. “We have a rare opportunity to give students an experiential learning experience that you won’t find at any other pharmacy. At Alto, our pharmacists work cross-functionally across operations, engineering, and design to build a better, more intuitive community pharmacy from the ground up. We focus on challenges faced by patients, providers, and payers, and find solutions that optimize experience, transparency, and health outcomes.”

Read our previous post, 'From Pharmacist to Professor: Sandra Aziz Spotlight'.

They’re also here to teach you! Our pharmacists are happy to chat on the phone for however long you need to offer individualized support. Many customers use these one-on-one consultations to learn how to give themselves injections as part of fertility treatment or diabetes management or to confirm special storage or dosing instructions, but our pharmacists are happy to share their expertise on any question related to your prescriptions or health needs.

For example, did you know that our pharmacists are experts on managing side effects? As a bridge between you and your doctor, our pharmacists review all of your current medications to identify any potential symptoms or medication interactions, and they’re available to talk through any questions or concerns.

Lawmakers in several states have recognized the accessibility of pharmacists and their potential to play an even larger role in healthcare, specifically in the HIV prevention space. California became the first state to allow pharmacists to prescribe HIV prevention medication like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in 2019, and Colorado became the second in November 2020. 

“As healthcare providers in the community, there is a big opportunity for us as pharmacists to play a critical role in HIV prevention and help increase accessibility to medications like PrEP and PEP,” explains Susan Sun, Specialty Pharmacist. “It’s been wonderful to see growing recognition of a pharmacist’s impact even outside of the healthcare community, and the recent legislation that allows pharmacists to prescribe in some states is just a start. It’s a privilege for pharmacists to be a part of these exciting changes and make HIV prevention easier for others.”

In honor of American Pharmacist Month, we’d like to say a big and heartfelt thank you to our incredible team of 175+ pharmacists. Each of you plays a critical role in the wellbeing of our customers, the strength of our provider relationships and the quality of our service — we’re grateful for your hard work all year long. 

Here are just a few of the faces responsible for providing exceptional pharmacist care at Alto!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

October 11 marks National Coming Out Day, an opportunity to celebrate all those who have come out as LGBTQ+ and recognize the courage they’ve demonstrated by choosing to be their authentic selves.

Celebrating National Coming Out Day at Alto

October 11 marks National Coming Out Day, an opportunity to celebrate all those who have come out as LGBTQ+ and recognize the courage they’ve demonstrated by choosing to be their authentic selves. In honor of this annual celebration, we sat down with two Alto team members — Ben Romero (he/they), Business Operations Manager for Health Plans and Travis White (he/him), Senior Software Engineer — who generously shared their experiences of coming out as bisexual/queer. Here are their stories, in their own words.

Ben: Like a lot of folks, I avoided coming out for most of my life. I grew up knowing that I wasn’t exactly straight and later recognized that I’m bisexual. I remember my entire experience around my sexuality being wrapped in shame. I would reluctantly conform to heteronormativity just to avoid the fear of being outed or questioned. It wasn't until college that I first felt like I could open myself up to the experience and validation that I deserved. By the time I graduated from college, I had a refreshed sense of my place in the world, but I was still hiding my sexuality from my family.

Five years after college, I was finally ready to be open with my family about being bisexual, and it was the first time I felt as if I had to “come out.” At the time I was engaged to my non-binary/queer partner. My family knew my partner as a woman, but my partner was also beginning to validate their nonbinary gender experience. All I could think about was how much of a disservice it would be to our identities as a queer couple if we started our marriage having to assume more invalidating heteronormative assumptions. I first told my closest family members — my younger brother and parents — who supported me unconditionally and showed me so much love. Not every family member was as accepting of my sexuality, which was really disappointing, but I had more than enough support from my chosen family to finally overcome the fear that I had held on to for so long. 

Travis: I realized I wasn’t completely straight at some point in high school. Growing up Catholic, I was always taught that men are attracted to women and that being gay was a sin. So when I found myself attracted to both girls and guys during high school, I wondered what was wrong with me. I brushed it off and ignored that aspect of my sexuality for a long time, which I would later come to regret since it definitely fed into ongoing anxiety and depression in college.

I first came out to my closest friends during my junior year of college. By that point, I had fully accepted that I wasn’t straight, but I had never acted on my bisexuality. I had only dated girls, so my friends saw me as completely straight. I couldn’t quite figure out how to tell them, and it ended up happening organically while hanging out on a Friday night. We were playing a game around the table that required everyone to share something no one else knew about them. Something came over me and I decided to throw caution to the wind with a, “by the way… I’m bi.”  

I came out to my parents several years later when I was working my first engineering job out of college, living in Silicon Valley and loving life. I knew that if they chose not to accept me, it was going to be their loss. After a night out (and an amazing prime rib dinner) when they were in town, I told them that there was something I wanted to tell them about myself - that I am bisexual. My dad’s first response was, “What does that mean?” I informed them that it means I am attracted to both men and women, though more recently, I’ve come to think of myself as being attracted to interesting people regardless of the gender they identify as. My parents were very supportive, but truthfully I had reached a point where I could be accepting of the worst-case scenario. 

Ben: I was most grateful for the sense of relief I experienced. Despite facing criticism and homophobia from some of my siblings after coming out, I couldn’t shake the sense of pride I felt from allowing myself to be unapologetically queer and visible. I’m finally allowing this part of me to flourish and grow. It’s liberating to be radically honest with yourself and others, regardless of what anyone else may think. I’ve now come to identify with the term queer in addition to bisexual. Part of the growth I’ve experienced involves unlearning so much of what I’ve been socialized to believe about the gender binary, and I’m just now starting to understand where I exist outside of it.  

Travis: When I came out to my friends during college, we stayed up talking until very late into the night. I left feeling a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders — and so full of love and support from some of the people I was closest to.

And later when I came out to my parents, they accepted me with open loving arms, for which I’m grateful, but I was also prepared to move forward with my life even if they did not accept me as my true authentic self.

What resources, support groups, or communities did you rely on when coming out? 

Ben: The isolation of being in the closet can sometimes lead to stories or expectations of yourself that aren’t necessarily helpful, or true. For me, as a bisexual, some of those expectations sounded like “I’m not queer enough,” “I don’t fit into the queer community,” or “people won’t believe I’m bi/queer.” I looked to my queer friends and even to LGBTQ+ advocates on social media and was relieved to find that they had many of the same fears about coming out as I did. I found that learning from other people’s experiences could help validate my own feelings, even if we had a different orientation or gender. As a queer Latinx, I also sought validation from people who shared similar intersections around my identity, which helped me navigate the concerns I had about coming out to my family.

Travis: My friends were very supportive so I was really able to lean on them. It was also helpful to just search online for other people’s coming out stories. Before I could tell my family, I knew I had to reach a point where I would be secure in my identity regardless of the outcome of that conversation. Part of the reason it’s so important to share coming out stories is because hearing other people’s experiences helps inspire you to do the same.

What advice would you give to others considering coming out? 

Ben: Above all, put your safety first. Try your best to not take on the burden of guilt for not being your authentic self — that is not a reflection of you, but a reflection of how our environment can fail to provide the validation we deserve. Take your time and build your comfort with folks who will validate your experience. There’s a whole community of people who will back you up and care for you if someone you come out to is hurtful or invalidating. 

Travis: Do it if, and when, you’re ready. You can never control how others will react, so just accept that other people’s responses have nothing to do with you. It took me years to reach that point with my family. It can be incredibly tough, and you can never know in advance how anyone will respond, but if they cannot accept you for your true authentic self, there are plenty others out there who will.

Do you have any suggestions for allies? 

Ben: I would stress the importance of familiarizing yourself with queer history and how our struggle for acceptence has evolved over the years. The LGBTQ+ community and allies have so much to be proud of today, like the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” (a former U.S. policy that directed military applicants to not disclose their sexual orientation), the legalization of gay marriage, and more queer representation on our screens — just to name a few.

At the same time, while all of those are certainly celebratory milestones, I ask that allies also recognize that our pride comes from so much more than a handful of legislative victories over the last decade. Our pride comes from the queer folks who came before us and fought for our visibility by rallying voices to speak out against injustice. Allies can research events such as the Compton’s Cafeteria riot, the Stonewall uprising, or the works of the Combahee River Collective. Understanding this historical context is important for also understanding the intersectional nature of the LGBTQ+ struggle for acceptance and restorative justice. Even though we have much to celebrate, our struggle continues as we fight for those who are still excluded or marginalized. 

Travis: Listen. The number one thing you can do is to listen and accept what someone in the LGBTQ+ community is telling you as their truth. It may change in the future — and that’s okay! Sexuality and gender are not a binary, and both can be incredibly fluid.

For parents: how you discuss sexual orientations and gender identities at home can leave a lasting impact on your children. I remember asking my mother about her thoughts on gay marriage, and she shared a more traditional view of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. That stuck with me for a long time and is a key reason I waited so long to tell them who I truly am. Read your toddler a book about a gay couple that gets married, teach your teens about prominent members of the LGBTQ+ community (and why they’re important), and if your LGBTQ+ child asks you to drive them to gay prom, treat the scenario as completely normal — because it is.

Why is it important for you to work at a company that values diversity in all forms? 

Ben: For me it’s a requirement that a company I work for prioritizes diversity and inclusion. I appreciate that Alto provides visibility into the progress that we’ve made towards building a diverse team that reflects the diversity of the patients we build solutions for. We also hold space to identify the work that still needs to be done. It’s really validating to have your background recognized at company celebrations and events or in spaces like employee resource groups (ERGs)*. It’s also important that we do all we can in our everyday actions to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment — one where people feel comfortable enough to be their authentic selves and not like they have to mask their gender, race, neurodivergence, or any other part of their identity. 

Travis: The U.S. — and the world — is made up of so many different people. There’s diversity of thought and beliefs, educational experiences, socioeconomic status, gender, race, A homogenous company that doesn’t mirror that diversity  will never be able to serve the entire population, and will miss out on a lot of opportunities. Alto’s mission is to fulfill medicine's true purpose — to improve quality of life — for everyone who needs it. The key word to me is everyone, and to truly fulfill the promise of that mission, we need a company as diverse as our customers. I personally find it rewarding to work at a company that values diversity and has strong representation of many identities, because that’s how the best ideas come to fruition and ultimately how the most positive impact is achieved.

At Alto, we believe in a world where every perspective matters. Diversity fosters creativity and creates innovation, and we welcome candidates of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences. To learn more, read Why We Prioritize Diversity at Alto. 

For more information on how to make your workplace safe and equitable for LGBTQ+ team members, read 11 Simple Ways You (Yes, You!) Can Make Your Workplace More LGBTQ Inclusive. 

If you or someone you know is considering coming out, we encourage you to review these resources:

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Recommended Reading: Coming Out

*ERGs are meant to empower community groups within an organization by directly linking decision makers and implementing policies that support the group’s specific needs. The groups often center around a shared identity or experience and focus on building community, providing support, and contributing to its members’ personal and professional well-being. By creating an open forum for employees to come together, discuss challenges and opportunities, and foster a sense of belonging, ERGs help both individuals and organizations thrive.

The Next Evolution of Our Company Values

A lot has changed at Alto since Matt and I first set out to transform the pharmacy experience back in 2015. (For one thing, we no longer work out of a storage closet.) In the past two years alone, we’ve quadrupled our team to more than 1,000 Altoids and opened new locations in Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle, New York City, Houston, Dallas, San Jose and San Diego.

Our mission — improving the quality of life for everyone who needs medicine — will never change, but a team of 1,000 needs a different recipe for success than one of 100. And as our team continues to grow, along with our geographic footprint, we’ve revisited our core values so that we can move forward with intention and clarity during this next phase of Alto’s journey.

Here are the values that guide our work today.

This was at the top of our founding values, and it’s still here. In fact, our resolve to put patients first has only gotten stronger — not because it’s what is best for the business, but because it is our only reason for being in business. Each member of our team strives to build a world where healthcare companies truly prioritize the needs of their patients, and we’ll do everything in our power to make that a reality.

My personal favorite of all our new values, dancing in the storm is about embracing the bumps in the road — and there are many when you’re taking on challenges within healthcare — and recognizing that you can always choose joy. We strive to help our teammates do the same by infusing a little bit of levity and laughter into the workday. It only takes one person to start a dance party!

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Nor is it the absence of strong opinions, but the willingness to learn and change our minds. Sometimes our ego takes over — that’s only human. But we try to be mindful of it, and willing to let go of our ego and instead put our mission, customers, and teammates ahead of ourselves.

We view ourselves as creators of our circumstances, responsible for our actions and our own well-being. When we don’t like an outcome, we don’t project blame onto others or ourselves, but rather take radical responsibility for how we created the situation. More than any other value, this is an opportunity for deep internal reflection, and by practicing it consistently, we can maximize our own individual growth.

We say what is true for us in the moment, even when it is uncomfortable. We support our teammates to do the same by recognizing the validity of their experience and not taking it personally. Leading with candor isn’t always easy, but it feels much better to live authentically and honestly and to work with others who do as well. Candor doesn't have to be angry or hurtful - it can be kind and binding, compassionate and respectful.

It’s easy to become paralyzed by fear, overwhelmed by all of the possibilities in a complex situation. So unless a decision involves customer or employee safety, we don’t wait for perfect information. We trust our intuition and common sense and simply forge ahead, knowing that mistakes are in fact one of the best ways to learn.

There are no shortcuts or silver bullets in an industry as complex as healthcare. The way to achieve transformational change is through continuous improvement over a long period of time. When we’re overwhelmed by the magnitude of what we’re trying to accomplish, we remember that what each of us does adds up — one step at a time, one customer at a time — and that with small but steady progress we can accomplish great feats.

As a company grows, issues no longer affect a few customers, but a few thousand. It’s tempting to only look at trends and aggregates, but we know this is a trap. Greater distance from individual examples creates more opportunity for misunderstanding, bias, and incorrect assumptions. So we look beyond surface-level data and dive deep into the details. Only then can we fully understand an issue to its core.

Values themselves are just words, and the words themselves are not that important. What’s important is how we live them day in and day out, and the culture they support. In the months ahead, we’ll continue to integrate these values into the fabric of our company processes, our products, our customers’ experiences, and our work lives. And this work is not something just a few leaders or HR team members do - every Altoid has a hand in bringing these values to life and co-creating our culture.

Build Tomorrow’s Pharmacy with Us — Join Our Team

If you are passionate about creating a great company culture, 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.

For nearly 50 years, RESOLVE — a national patient advocacy organization — has been both a go-to resource for individuals and couples experiencing infertility and a leading advocacy voice.

What to know about RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

Infertility is often misunderstood and stigmatized, and it’s easy to feel isolated when you are experiencing difficulty starting a family. For nearly 50 years, RESOLVE — a national patient advocacy organization — has been both a go-to resource for individuals and couples experiencing infertility and a leading advocacy voice, helping pass laws across the country to make family building options more accessible.

Simeonne Bookal, Senior Manager, Access to Care, and Tracie Sullivan, Senior Manager, Grassroots Outreach, recently spoke with Alto about some of the challenges their organization has overcome, what’s coming up next, and why we need more honest conversations about infertility.

RESOLVE has supported individuals and couples through infertility challenges for nearly 50 years. What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome as an organization?

Tracie: I focus on RESOLVE’s grassroots advocacy efforts and help lawmakers understand the challenges of family building and the need for legislation that removes barriers to family building options. I continue to see so much stigma and shame around infertility, even in 2021. Part of that comes from misconceptions about infertility and surrogacy.  

I would say, though, that we are generally moving in a positive direction, with greater awareness of infertility and all the accompanying challenges. In recent years, celebrities and other influencers have come forward and shared their experiences with infertility, which has opened the gate for more conversations.

Simeonne: To build on Tracie’s point, when public figures do come forward and share their experiences with infertility, it’s often after they’ve had a happy ending, not when they’re struggling the most. We’re continually trying to broaden the conversation so that people feel empowered to share when they’re in the most difficult part of their infertility journey. 

On a different note, the pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges we’ve had to tackle as an organization. For us, pivoting to virtual programming isn’t just about moving online, it’s about finding ways to offer the same quality of services and events as we did pre-pandemic. 

We’ve had success with virtual events, including our advocacy day and programming for National Infertility Awareness Week 2021. Many people have found our virtual support groups to be really accessible, and that’s been an opportunity for us to reconsider how we can most effectively bring people together.

What can we look forward to from RESOLVE in the near future?

Simeonne: Like many organizations, RESOLVE is invested in making our programming as inclusive and diverse as possible. Something I’m really excited about, which emerged from our conversations about inclusion and diversity, are more tailored support groups.

We recently launched a men’s support group and a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) support group. I think we’ll continue to see a trend of more specific support groups over time, in recognition of how many different experiences of infertility exist.

What would you tell someone who’s nervous about joining an infertility support group?

Simeonne: Just give it a try. There’s no commitment required, and you can talk as little or as much as you want. It may feel intimidating to share something so personal with a group of strangers, but many people find it easier to discuss infertility in our support groups than with family and friends since you’re speaking with people who understand what you’re going through. 

Also, now is an ideal time to get started, since many of our groups are meeting virtually. You don’t even have to leave the house, you can just log on.

What’s happening in the legislative landscape in regards to family building opportunities?

Tracie: Right now, 19 different states have passed fertility insurance coverage laws, 13 of which include IVF coverage. (Editor’s note: Fertility insurance coverage laws require health insurance providers to offer coverage for diagnosing infertility and treatment. There is significant variation in state-level legislation, and not all states with fertility insurance coverage laws require health insurers to cover assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures like IVF.)

And 11 states have fertility preservation laws that support people navigating medically-induced infertility, including cancer patients and survivors. (Editor’s note: Fertility preservation treatments like egg freezing and sperm freezing allow individuals to have biological children in the future after changes to their reproductive health. Many individuals living with health conditions that impact fertility explore these treatment options, as do others who wish to delay starting a family.)

RESOLVE is actively working to pass fertility insurance coverage laws in other states, and to improve the legislation that is already in place. For example, in some states with fertility insurance coverage legislation, there are restrictions to coverage access, including marriage requirements and five-year waiting periods for fertility treatment, which don’t align with current medical care standards. 

In other states, coverage is limited to diagnosis and testing and does not include treatment. We also support federal legislation that improves access to family building. Our goal is to make these benefits as inclusive and accessible to as many individuals and families as possible. 

We have a great resource on our website that explains more about infertility insurance and offers a state-by-state breakdown of fertility insurance coverage laws.

View RESOLVE’s guide to infertility coverage by state.

The financial cost of fertility treatment can feel overwhelming. Can you share any resources that help make fertility treatment more accessible?

Simeonne: There are many resources out there that can help alleviate part of the financial burden — from manufacturers’ patient assistance programs to scholarships, grants, and coverage at work programs — but it does require a bit of research. 

We have a list of infertility financing programs and services on our website, which includes some patient assistance programs, and another page with scholarships and grants that you can apply to. 

In addition, RESOLVE’s Coverage at Work initiative was created to support employees and employers in adding fertility insurance coverage to their companies’ healthcare plans.

Tracie: We’ve been happy to see that more employers are offering coverage, even in states that don’t have laws related to infertility coverage. If family building options aren’t covered through your employer’s healthcare plan, we always encourage people to ask for support. You’ll be helping many more people going through the same experience by bringing attention to the need for coverage.

View RESOLVE’s toolkit for employees seeking fertility insurance coverage.

What do you enjoy most about being a part of RESOLVE?

Simeonne: I feel grateful to work for an organization that’s making a direct impact in so many people’s lives. I love getting messages from support group members sharing what this resource means to them. I feel a greater connection to my work and a deeper sense of motivation knowing it touches so many people during a time in their life when it’s easy to feel alone. 

Tracie: I also love seeing the difference that RESOLVE makes for so many people. Many of the laws our community has helped advocate for take years to pass, but when they do, thousands of people get the coverage they need to start a family. And I feel lucky to work alongside such a passionate group. Many of our advocates are people who have completed their family building journeys but want to be there for others.

The importance of seeking support when experiencing infertility 

It is understandable to feel overwhelmed when navigating infertility and exploring your family building options. While each individual journey is unique, there are others willing to share their experience and offer support as you take the next steps to start a family. RESOLVE can help you connect with other individuals affected by infertility and explore your options for financing fertility treatment.

Search for a RESOLVE support group and learn more about how to seek fertility insurance coverage from your employer.

At Alto, we understand the complexities of fertility treatment and the challenges of infertility, and we are here to support you in starting a family if fertility medications become part of your path to parenthood. With Alto, you’ll never have to worry about whether medications will arrive on time, and you’ll have support at every step of the way — we offer a variety of resources including one-on-one consultations with fertility-trained pharmacists to ensure that you’re never alone in navigating fertility treatment.

Learn more at alto.com/fertility or reach out at any time by phone at 1-800-874-5881 or in-app messaging. 

About RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

Established in 1974, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders. One in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility. RESOLVE addresses this public health issue by providing community to these women and men, connecting them with others who can help, empowering them to find resolution and giving voice to their demands for access to all family building options. For more information, visit www.RESOLVE.org.

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.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 - October 15 every year, Alto is highlighting the important work of Alto Auténtico, our Latinx employee resource group (ERG).

Get to Know Alto Auténtico, our Latinx ERG

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 - October 15 every year, Alto is highlighting the important work of Alto Auténtico, our Latinx employee resource group (ERG)*. Below, Robert Barahona, Provider Success Specialist and co-leader of Alto Auténtico, shares more about the group’s origins, current initiatives, and plans for the future.

Robert: “Auténtico” means authentic in Spanish, and authenticity is central to the ERG’s mission. The group was created to ensure that Alto’s Latinx team members have a presence and a voice within our company culture, and that they are supported in their professional development with meaningful opportunities to grow at Alto.  

Robert: Our focus is both internal and external. In addition to developing a Latinx community at Alto, we also shape Alto’s product and services so that we’re better serving our Latinx users (more about that later). Much of that work involves building awareness of Latinx history and cultural contributions, as well as bringing attention to negative stereotypes that we want to dismantle.

We use holidays and events like Day of the Dead (November 1st and 2nd) and Cesar Chavez’ birthday (March 31) to share educational resources with our team members. On Cinco de Mayo, we hosted a Zoom happy hour and a taco lunch for all our pharmacies.

For last year’s Hispanic Heritage Month, we invited Dr. Robert Rodriguez, the president of diversity consulting firm DRR Advisors and a thought leader in Latinx talent management, to speak at Alto. He shared about his own journey of repressing his background to assimilate in the workplace to fully embracing his heritage and empowering other Latinx employees to be their authentic selves.

How are we celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month this year?

Robert: We’re focusing on celebrating Latinx intersectionality. It’s important to recognize the diversity within Latinx culture and the important perspectives of Latinx women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those of mixed heritage, including our Black and Asian members who also identify as Hispanic or Latinx. Every week during Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re educating the full Alto team about a specific group within the broader Latinx community, with resources for additional learning.

What can team members look forward to from Alto Auténtico in the future? 

Robert: We’re really excited to continue to help shape Alto’s services and resources for customers, making our offerings as inclusive as possible. We’re currently working with the operations, product, and marketing teams to establish a bilingual team to support Spanish-speaking individuals using our pharmacy delivery services across all of our communities. 

We’re also launching a mentorship program in which Alto’s junior Latinx team members will be paired with senior Latinx team members for coaching sessions. This is another important step in continuing to invest in our Latinx team members’ professional development.

How can allies recognize Hispanic Heritage Month?

Robert: Great question! I think learning is key. Simply taking the time to educate yourself about the Hispanic and/or Latinx experience — particularly about our diversity as a group — goes a long way toward building trust, which is key to true allyship.

Interested in learning more about the Alto Auténtico employee resource group? Reach out to altoautentico@alto.com and visit alto.com/careers to learn more about our open roles. 

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 - October 15 every year, Alto is highlighting the important work of Alto Auténtico, our Latinx employee resource group (ERG)

Get an inside look at the patients team at Alto Pharmacy to learn what it's like to work on Alto's customer-facing apps, which projects are on the horizon, and who makes the best barbecue short ribs.

Get to Know the Team That Builds Alto's Customer-Facing Apps

Imagine an app that allows you to buy things and have them delivered to you the same day, for free. Now take that app and put it in a highly regulated space like pharmacy. You face the challenge not only of building an e-commerce platform from scratch, but also of navigating medication pricing, federal and state regulations, and patient safety—and that's just the way the Patients Team likes it.

"It's a really exciting and fun problem to solve," says Mike Riess, the team's Engineering Manager. Software Engineer Angelique Nehmzow agrees: "There's a really strong product and design aspect, like more traditional startups, but then everything gets a little bit more interesting because it's healthcare."

Below, we chat with the team to learn what it's like to work on Alto's customer-facing apps, which projects are on the horizon, and who makes the best barbecue short ribs.

What does the Patients Team do at Alto? 

Ask anyone on the team why they joined, and chances are, they'll tell you they wanted to be on the product team closest to Alto's customers: "We really try to own the customer experience," says Peter Zeng, the latest Software Engineer to join the team. "If a customer is coming to the web app, or they're coming to our mobile app, we want to make sure that they're able to onboard with us as easily and conveniently as possible."

The team is also responsible for the customer experience beyond onboarding, from the moment a customer schedules a medication for delivery to the time that it shows up on their doorstep. "We already offer great services like free, same-day delivery and cost savings. The Patients Team empowers customers to make the most of our offering," Nehmzow explains. "You can see what prescriptions you have, check on the status of your order, and schedule automatic refills. In a more traditional pharmacy, you don't get that kind of visibility. You have to call them up or even wait in line in person. At Alto, it's a different experience."

What was it like in the team's early days?

Today, there are eleven engineers on the team working to build that better end-to-end experience—but it wasn't always that way. When the team first formed in 2019, it consisted of just three members: Riess, Brian McRae, and Andy Lau, all of whom are still on the team.

"The first priority for us was just stabilizing the foundations," Riess says of the team's early days. Every other week, the three team members, along with Alto co-founders Matt Gamache-Asselin and Jamie Karraker, would meet to audit the app's core flows. "For the first three months we probably didn't make it through some flow at least 50% of the time," Riess recalls. "There would be a ton of bugs in the onboarding experience, things that weren't working with the flows or navigation or deep linking."

Among the team's first projects was a redesign of the checkout flow. "There was a lot of work to be done to streamline the checkout flow, which is pretty much the main function of the app," says McRae, who initially joined the team as a software engineer and later transitioned into product management. "We had to make it easier to add a payment, add your addresses, everything you need to do to schedule your prescription for delivery."

"The growth of the team, in terms of both size and stability of the platform, has allowed us to swing at more interesting bets for the company," Riess says. In particular, the Patients Team has turned their attention toward experiences personalized for specific medical conditions.

"Different customers have different needs. A customer who wishes to start a family will have a different experience than a customer who needs to order their routine heart medications that they've been taking for the last eight years,” McRae says. “The challenge for us is how we serve all these customers well through the app."

"I think that's where Alto can be such a differentiator," Riess adds. "A world-class pharmacy experience is about so much more than just dispensing medications. We want to build tools for customers that help them get the most out of their medications—everything from simple videos teaching them how to perform injections safely at home to the ability to synchronize deliveries for multiple prescriptions for managing complex health conditions."

With these new projects on the horizon, engineers have ample opportunity to focus on the areas that excite them most. "We're full-stack and mobile and web," Nehmzow says. "Part of the team focuses more on experimentation, iterating quickly, and using data to make decisions. Part of the team focuses more on platform work, tooling, and improving the developer experience. There are a lot of areas to explore and contribute to."

One spring night, the Patients Team gathered in a back yard in San Francisco’s Mission District for short ribs and an impressive spread of side dishes. "Kudos to Robbi, who's the grill master. I just provide the grill!" Nehmzow says, laughing. While the team barbecue was the first time some members had met in person, Zeng notes that the team has been supportive of one another even while working remotely during the pandemic.

"The first real project that I was assigned to was working with the communications system. Before writing my first piece of code, I spent two weeks exploring what already exists and understanding the different parts of the system," Zeng says. "I've been really impressed with how understanding my teammates have been. They make the space for you to learn all the different pieces of code we own."

That culture of support is by design, reflected in the six principles—complete with matching emojis—at the top of the #patients-team Slack channel: "Empower each other," "be an owner," "find the path," "learn by doing," "embrace complexity," and "foster trust." 

While these principles echo Alto's company-wide values, they are unique to the Patients Team. "For a long time, we were the only external-facing product team at Alto," Riess says. "These principles were intended to be this motivation around how we win. It's a combination of how we treat each other, how we reason about decision making, and how we approach solving a problem that's never existed before."

As the team looks toward the future, those principles have never been more relevant: "We have a goal and an area we want to focus on, but in terms of which projects we're going to do, it's not a top-down thing," Nehmzow says. "It's very much, 'We're going to figure out how to solve this problem together, even when it's difficult.' That's my favorite part about the team."

The Patients Team is hiring! Learn more about open positions here.

Starting Monday, August 16, residents of the San Diego metro area can now choose Alto's same-day doorstep delivery for their pharmacy needs.

Hello, San Diego!

Alto's launch in San Diego extends our free, same-day pharmacy delivery model to even more Californians.

Starting today, August 15th, residents of the San Diego 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 PT (6:30 - 9:30 pm PT for outlying areas)
Saturday - Sunday: 2 - 5 pm PT (2:30 - 5:30 pm PT for outlying areas)

Walk-in hours
Monday - Friday: 9 am – 7 pm PT
Saturday - Sunday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm pT

San Diego 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 4240 Kearny Mesa Road, Suite 107.

General customer support hours are Monday - Friday 6 am - 9 pm PT and Saturday - Sunday 7 am - 6 pm PT. Patients can reach out to Alto via phone at 1 (800) 874-5881 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 Dallas, and currently delivers across the greater Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, New York City, Houston, Dallas, and Austin.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

We answer common questions about insurance coverage for prescription medications, including how we go above and beyond to ensure that you’re receiving your medications on time and at the lowest price possible.

How does Alto Pharmacy work with insurance?

Getting the medication you need often involves more than just receiving a prescription from your doctor and filling it at a pharmacy. And navigating the complexities of insurance coverage, from copays and deductibles to formularies and medication tiers, can be a particularly big source of stress.

A great pharmacy partner makes sure you’re never alone in working through the details of your insurance plan’s pharmacy benefits. At Alto, we tackle all of the insurance-related legwork for you and give you the information you need to understand the process.

Below, we’ve answered some common questions about insurance coverage for prescription medications, including how we go above and beyond to ensure that you’re receiving your medications on time and at the lowest price possible.

How do I know how much my medication will cost at Alto?

When you get started with Alto, we’ll automatically pull in any insurance information we can find. If you have additional coverage, just let us know and we’ll add it to your profile. For each prescription, we’ll check with your primary (and secondary) insurance plan to pull your copay amount — the amount you owe out of pocket for your medications — including any possible savings. (More about that below!)

Sometimes paying cash for your medications, separate from insurance benefits, will be cheaper than your copay. If that’s the case, we’ll let you know the different pricing options so you can make an informed choice.

By checking every available savings option, automatically, every time! Unlike traditional pharmacies, Alto is proactive about applying potential sources of savings like manufacturer coupons, patient assistant programs, and copay cards wherever applicable. We’ll automatically start looking for these opportunities the minute we receive your prescription, and we’ll keep you informed of any savings options that require you to apply directly with the program or manufacturer.

Learn more about how Alto saves you money on your prescriptions.

Here’s another way we’re different from traditional pharmacies: we’ll continue searching for less expensive medication options even after we’ve researched savings opportunities.  You’re in the driver’s seat, and if you would like support in identifying other medication options that may be covered by your insurance at better rates, we’ll work with your doctor to evaluate those choices.

Insurance companies categorize medications into tiers based on various factors such as whether the medications are generic or brand-name and how frequently they are prescribed. Medications in higher tiers generally include non-preferred brands and specialty medications for rare conditions, and these typically cost more than medications from a lower formulary tier.

Keep in mind that 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.

I’ve heard of an insurance “formulary.” What does that mean?

Every health insurance plan has a list of covered generic and brand-name medications, called a formulary, which you can locate online or by calling your plan. It includes the tiers mentioned above, indicating which medications are preferred by your insurer and therefore offered at a lower out-of-pocket cost.

When deciding whether to renew your current health insurance coverage or select a different plan for the new year, you may want to check the formularies to determine if your current medications will be covered. Read our previous blog to learn more about what to consider when reviewing insurance coverage options every year.

What if my insurance denies coverage of my medication?

If a medication isn’t on the formulary at all, you may have the option of submitting a prior authorization to prove the medical necessity of the medication and gain coverage from your insurance plan.

If a prior authorization is needed, we can work with your doctor to submit the necessary paperwork. We’ll keep both you and your doctor in the loop throughout the process so you know the current status of the request until your insurance provider has made a decision. If your prior authorization request is denied, we will work with your doctor to either process an appeal or find a different treatment option.

Read our previous post, ‘What is a Prior Authorization?’ to learn more about how Alto can help you navigate this process.

A pharmacy partner that’s always on your side

At Alto, we go above and beyond to help you stay on track with your doctor’s recommendations, getting you the medication you need at the best price possible.

Switch to a better pharmacy for free same-day delivery and support with insurance and savings opportunities. Reach out any time by phone at 1-800-874-5881 or in-app messaging.

How Does Alto Pharmacy Work with Health Insurance? We Answer Your Top Questions.

How Alto Pharmacy works with health insurance

How does Alto Pharmacy work with insurance? We answer your top questions.

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:

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Celebrating American Pharmacist Month At Alto

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The Next Evolution of Our Company Values

What to know about RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

Get to Know Alto Auténtico, our Latinx ERG

Get to Know the Team That Builds Alto's Customer-Facing Apps

Hello, San Diego!

How Does Alto Pharmacy Work with Health Insurance? We Answer Your Top Questions.

Alto Pharmacy Named Great Place to Work®

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Switch to a better pharmacy.