NACDS expands state government affairs team

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores announced on Wednesday that Joel Kurzman has joined its state government affairs team as a director.

Kurzman previously worked as senior policy manager for Abbott Labs in Illinois. He also worked in government affairs capacities for Prevent Blindness America and Anixter Center — both in Illinois. In his new role, Kurzman will collaborate with state associations and with NACDS member companies' staff, advocating for pro-patient, pro-pharmacy policies directly with state lawmakers and state agencies in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

"Joel brings to NACDS an extensive background in policy, advocacy, coalition development and research, and we look forward to him hitting the ground running on our already highly regarded state government affairs team," NACDS president and CEO Steve Anderson said. "He joins NACDS at a time when states are facing many challenges, and it is critical that pharmacy services are recognized as strategies to help reduce healthcare costs and improve patient health by helping patients take their medications as prescribed, thus preventing more costly forms of care. Joel's experience will offer great value as he illustrates pharmacy as the face of neighborhood health care to state policymakers."