Episode #468 South Carolina's Hidden Pharmacy, With Kahlia Aposhian And Jessica Gaines
- Aug 4
- 5 min read
On This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
What Happens When Health Insurance Isn't an Option?
Across South Carolina, thousands of uninsured residents are managing chronic conditions and recovering from hospital stays without the safety net most people take for granted. For many, the gap between needing medication and being able to afford it can mean the difference between stability and crisis.
In this episode, Dr. Huntley sits down with Kahlia Aposhian and Jessica Gaines of Welvista. They talk about a resource that has been quietly serving this exact gap for years, a free statewide mail-order pharmacy most people have never heard of, even though it might be saving lives in their own community.
Meeting People Where They Are
Kahlia, Director of Patient Services, and Jessica, Community Outreach Advocate Manager, both came to public health through paths they did not originally plan. Kahlia's introduction came through nonprofit work in Seattle, then through patient relations at a major medical center during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jessica found her way into the field through grassroots community work. She saw firsthand how often people fall through the cracks, not because resources do not exist, but because they cannot access them.
That shared understanding shapes how their team operates today. Sometimes it means helping someone complete a paper application at a local McDonald's. Other times it means partnering directly with hospital care teams to get a patient's medications in hand before they are discharged. Either way, the goal is the same: meet people exactly where they are.
Inside the Medication Assistance Pharmacy
Kahlia and Jessica break down how the Medication Assistance Pharmacy actually works. Eligibility comes down to three things: being uninsured, residing in South Carolina, and falling at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. From there, the program covers more than 300 medications at no cost, along with diabetes testing supplies and over-the-counter items many people overlook when budgeting for care.
The hospital advocate program adds another layer of impact. By placing advocates inside partner hospitals five days a week, the team works directly with care teams and social workers to connect uninsured patients with medications before they ever leave the building. The hope is fewer readmissions and less reliance on the emergency department as a substitute for primary care.
A Companion Mission for Mental Health
The conversation also turns to Girl Get Up Society, a nonprofit Kahlia and Jessica both help lead. The organization provides mental health services to women and girls across South Carolina, from a monthly teen empowerment program to retreats supporting mothers navigating postpartum depression and infant loss. It is a reminder that access to care extends well beyond medication, and that community support can take many forms.
About Our Guests
Kahlia Aposhian
Kahlia Aposhian serves as Director of Patient Services for Welvista's Medication Assistance Pharmacy, a role she has held for nearly three years. She oversees the program's community and hospital advocates, along with the patient services team that manages applications and intake. Before relocating to South Carolina, Kahlia worked in Seattle as assistant director of patient relations at the University of Washington Medical Center, where she served as the primary point of contact for the hospital's risk management team throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She also serves as Board Chair for Girl Get Up Society, a nonprofit supporting the mental health of women and girls across the state.
Jessica Gaines
Jessica Gaines serves as Community Outreach Advocate Manager for Welvista's Medication Assistance Pharmacy. She leads a team of twelve advocates working directly with patients, clinics, and community organizations across South Carolina. Jessica's path into public health grew out of her nonprofit background, where she saw firsthand how often people are unable to access the healthcare resources available to them. She also serves on the Board of Girl Get Up Society as Secretary.
Listen To This Episode Of The Public Health Epidemiology Conversations (PHEC) Podcast
Conversation Highlights
A statewide pharmacy is closing a major access gap.
Welvista's Medication Assistance Pharmacy provides free medications to uninsured South Carolinians who meet income and residency requirements, with no limit on how many years someone can stay enrolled as long as they continue to qualify.
Hospital partnerships are catching patients before they fall through the cracks.
By placing advocates directly inside partner hospitals, the program connects uninsured patients with medications before discharge, aiming to reduce readmissions tied to untreated conditions.
Access barriers go beyond insurance.
Advocates meet people wherever they are, sometimes in a parking lot or at a kitchen table, to work around challenges like literacy that might otherwise stand in the way of completing an application.
The emergency department often functions as primary care.
For many uninsured patients, the ER is the only point of contact with the healthcare system. MAP's model is designed to intervene earlier and reduce that reliance.
Public health careers often emerge from unexpected places.
Both guests describe finding their way into the field through nonprofit work and direct patient interaction rather than a planned trajectory.
Mental health support rounds out the picture of community care.
Girl Get Up Society extends free therapy, teen programming, and retreats to women and girls across South Carolina, addressing needs that medication access alone cannot meet.
Sustainable impact requires intentional rest.
Both guests speak candidly about the importance of stepping back from emotionally demanding work, a theme Dr. Huntley echoes from her own recent experience taking time away.
"Making sure patients understand how our process works and that they have someone who can actually help guide them through that process is really important for us." — Jessica Gaines
"Even something as basic to us as literacy may be a challenge for some of our community members. And we do not want that to be a barrier." — Kahlia Aposhian
🎙️ Community Exclusive
This episode includes an After the Mic bonus conversation available only to PHEC Podcast Community members.
Join The PHEC Podcast Community
The conversation doesn't have to end when the episode does.
If you're looking to connect with other public health professionals, epidemiologists, and change-makers who are passionate about improving health outcomes, we invite you to join our growing community.
Join the community today and continue the conversation with public health professionals who understand your work and share your commitment to making a difference.
Connect With Our Guests:
Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
Public Health Consulting
DrCHHuntley LLC is a public health consulting firm that specializes in epidemiology consulting, supporting large nonprofit organizations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida that serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We also provide nationwide public health consulting and epidemiology consulting support to BIPOC organizations across the United States.
Comments