Welcome to HITea With Grace, where we dive deep into the heart of pressing healthcare issues.

In today's episode, I'm beyond honored to be joined by friend and inspiration Erica Olenski, a stellar healthcare communications professional and the Founding Executive Director of August's Artists. We embark on a heartfelt journey as Erica shares her deeply personal and challenging experience as a caregiver for her son, August, navigating pediatric cancer and the complexities of the healthcare system. 

Erica had firsthand experience with the Texas Medicaid "unwinding" process, unveiling the profound challenges faced by families like hers - losing necessary coverage without anyone to turn to. Through her narrative, we glean insight into the bureaucratic hurdles and systemic issues that jeopardize the continuity of care for children like August, whose medical needs demand unwavering support. As the dialogue broadens, Erica articulates the critical role of Medicaid coverage for families grappling with pediatric cancer and other serious conditions. She underscores the disruptive impact of coverage interruptions and advocates for improvements in the Medicaid enrollment and renewal process to safeguard against future crises. 

Erica's advocacy work and organizational initiatives, such as August's Artists, memorializing and cherishing the patient artwork inside the hospital room, serve as beacons of hope, offering solace and support to families in their healthcare journey. Please consider supporting the work this critical organization is doing: https://www.augustsartists.org/