ARLINGTON, Va. – As the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee preps for the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is emphasizing the role of its members in a holistic approach to health and wellness.

In a statement for a nutrition-focused hearing held on February 16, NACDS President and CEO Steven

Steve Anderson

Anderson wrote: “Increasingly, NACDS members are leveraging the pharmacy, the total store, and external partnerships to innovate in areas including food as medicine, comprehensive health and wellness, and chronic disease prevention and management.”

That message is consistent with “NACDS 2023” – a member-driven initiative to innovate the value the Association adds to members’ bold advancement of health and wellness.

Anderson described the results of a December 2022 poll conducted by Morning Consult and commissioned by NACDS that found 80 percent of American adults support pharmacists helping patients to understand their nutritional choices, and support pharmacists helping patients prevent chronic disease such as heart disease and diabetes.

Anderson also reported to the Committee NACDS’ recommendations and commitments associated with the September 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.

Of particular relevance to the Committee’s work, the White House National Strategy announced at the White House Conference reflects aspects of NACDS policy recommendations related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), among other NACDS recommendations. NACDS urges modernization of these programs to incentivize and support access to more nutritious foods for lower-income individuals.

Other NACDS recommendations relate to: point-of-care testing for diet-related conditions; enactment of the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act; incentivizing payers’ coverage for enhanced access to dietitians, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who can help prevent and support diet-related conditions and mental health; and leveraging pharmacists, pharmacies and others in national prevention programs for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

NACDS’ work to advance “NACDS 2023” and to sustain the focus of the White House Conference of Hunger, Nutrition, and Health continues on February 28 and March 1, when NACDS will convene a stakeholder meeting in Washington, D.C. for continued collaboration and action.