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This month we are pleased to spotlight Kevin Host, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at Walmart.‍

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Please share a brief description of your current role:

I currently serve as Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at Walmart, which includes leading the strategy, growth, operations, and customer omni experiences for nearly 4,600 pharmacies and supports the operations of 3,000 Vision Centers across the United States and Puerto Rico. 

Through my role I oversee a team of more than 65,000 Health & Wellness associates across a portfolio of business units including specialty, mail order and central fill pharmacies as well as home office leadership and support teams. 

I am thrilled to serve as Chair and executive board member for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores where I can help advance the evolution of pharmacy practice, advocating for scope of practice expansion and empowering pharmacists as direct providers of care. 

I’ve compiled 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical benefit industry with a strong background in specialty benefit management, product development, pharmacy operations and mentoring emerging leaders. 

Before my role at Walmart I served as President and COO of Avita, and prior to that, Senior Vice President of specialty pharmacy at OptumRx for over a decade. I earned my Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific in California.

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What is Walmart most proud of so far in regards to your work to address HIV?‍

Walmart began specialty pharmacy operations in 2003. Our specialty pharmacy helps show our commitment to helping our customers across an entire spectrum of health needs. Our focus on HIV care is highlighted in our “Specialty Pharmacies of the Community” (SPOC) stores. These are select Walmart pharmacies focusing on core areas, including viral infections and inflammatory conditions. We currently have 89 HIV-focused SPOCs open and serving communities in 11 states including Colorado, Nevada, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Florida, Georgia and Connecticut.  

Our patients are dealing with complex, often life-altering conditions that require high-touch clinical support. Walmart is a name people trust and thus we are well-positioned to be the trusted pharmacy to assist patients who are taking specialty medications. 

In November 2023, Walmart also opened a new, state-of-the-art specialty pharmacy fill facility in Orlando, Florida. This facility fills specialty prescriptions, shipping to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, expanding access to specialty prescriptions nationwide. The facility has the capacity to serve over 23,000 patients a week, allowing Walmart to fill three times more prescriptions than our previous specialty facility. 

Also last year, On World AIDS Day, we launched an HIV screening pilot at two Walmart pharmacies in Virginia, which offered free HIV screenings and results during the pilot phase. This is important because where there is awareness and accessible options, there can be proper care. These two HIV screening locations are also HIV-focused SPOCs as well. I’m excited and energized by how our teams are making meaningful impacts in the communities we serve.

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Why is it important for Walmart to be part of the U.S. Business Action to End HIV coalition? 

The momentum behind this team effort is inspiring, and the work is making a difference. We are honored to do our part. 

In addition to the growth behind our HIV-focused specialty pharmacies, we continue to collaborate with the Elton John AIDS Foundation by developing a provider training program for our pharmacists and other Health & Wellness associates. 

Health & Wellness has an opportunity to bring Walmart’s mission of helping bring “live better” to life. Our priority is to do just that, and we believe we bring live better to life through patient care obsessed associates. 

The U.S. Business Action to End HIV is touching communities all over the country, and I look forward to reaching our goal together.

Walmart has done a lot of work to support the expansion of HIV services in community pharmacies. Why are pharmacists uniquely positioned to provide HIV prevention and treatment services?

Care needs to be provided at a local level – Walmart is trusted by our communities, and our associates live and work in those communities, and their patients are their neighbors.  

At Walmart, with 150 million people passing through our doors each week, we have a unique opportunity to reach people who might not otherwise have access to or feel comfortable seeking HIV care. Located conveniently and discreetly inside a Walmart pharmacy, our Specialty Pharmacies of the Community (SPOCs) help people living with HIV manage every aspect of their condition, right where they’re already shopping for their everyday essentials. From discussing treatment options to conversations around mental health to sharing resources and helping navigate insurance options, we’re committed to holistic care. 

Community-based pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy interns are integral members of the community who bring significant value to the individuals they serve. With each SPOC launched, and each pharmacist or technician trained, we’re learning and growing toward even better care in the future.

Can you describe any partnerships or collaborations Walmart has established to support its commitment to ending HIV, both within and beyond the company?

One of the ways we are reaching people is by offering affordable testing and treatment and increased access to HIV research initiatives. We’ve chosen to collaborate with the Elton John AIDS Foundation on national and local initiatives to increase awareness and access to resources and education through our breakthrough program. 

Since launching our HIV training program with the Elton John AIDS Foundation less than a year ago, every single pharmacist across our 89 HIV-focused Specialty Pharmacies of the Community locations has completed it. 

This training equips pharmacists and clinicians to support patients with or at risk of HIV/AIDS through clinical and culturally relevant education, enabling more compassionate care. 

We’re also a founding member of the U.S. Business Action to End HIV. Our collaborations are aligned to help achieve our goal of offering compassionate care to our communities in a manner that overcomes barriers and stigmatization.

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