In FY21, our health equity work included our Health Mart pharmacies, DEI initiatives in our workforce and supplier diversity efforts. We recognize health outcomes are influenced by many factors. And that while the concepts of diversity, equity and inclusion are not new, the need for companies to think about the bigger picture, to collaborate and innovate to address disparities and inequities, has never been so important. We seek to create an enterprise that embodies the values we want to share with all our stakeholders, which is essential to building our business, delivering and supporting an equitable healthcare system, and making a meaningful contribution to some of the most important issues facing our society. Advancing health equity Our local pharmacists have the ability to make a meaningful difference in how persistent social, economic and environmental conditions prevent equitable access to care in communities across the globe. One such partnership is focused on just that. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), more than 3,300 Health Mart independent pharmacies are working to end the HIV epidemic by donating their dispensing services to support Ready, Set, PrEP. The HHS program provides free pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication to uninsured individuals at risk of contracting HIV. Ready, Set, PrEP is a key component of Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE). EHE is an HHS initiative that aims to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the United States by 75% by 2025 and by 90% by 2030. As part of the partnership, Health Mart pharmacies will also provide patient counseling and take steps to promote medication adherence as well as provide free PrEP medications in store at no cost for those eligible. “Health Mart’s participation in this initiative is just one example of how pharmacies and pharmacists have been called upon multiple times to be a part of solutions addressing many of the health care challenges over the past year,” said Nancy Lyons, BSPharm, MBA, CDCES, vice president, chief pharmacy officer, Health Mart, in an August 2021 interview with Drug Store News. “60% of our community pharmacies serve vulnerable or under- served populations, and now, pharmacists can dispense PrEP medications at no cost to patients.” 3,300+ Health Mart independent pharmacies are working to end the HIV epidemic by donating their dispensing services to support Ready, Set, PrEP. Introduction Stories Employees Access Equity Climate Operations >Table of Contents | 33 FY21 Impact Report