Colorado State University’s Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging was joined this week by Lily Griego, regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss recent initiatives that are shaping the well-being of adults across the state, offering a comprehensive view of the HHS mission and its impact on public health.
The interview was published on the Center’s podcast, living healthy longer, which covers the latest news in aging research, interventions and community programs supporting our ever-growing, aging population.
Griego’s work spans Region 8 of HHS, representing states of Colorado, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and 30 federally recognized Tribes.
Her historic appointment in the Biden-Harris Administration falls under the 25th Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, who is the first Latino to hold the office in the history of the United States.
On the issues
Throughout the interview, Griego highlights HHS’s efforts to enhance public health awareness on crucial issues affecting Coloradans, including maternal health care, mental health destigmatization, and equitable access to health care services in rural areas.
In Colorado, 73% of counties are classified as rural, and 13% of the state’s population, or 697,748 people, reside in these areas. With nearly half of the state’s population over age 80 living in rural regions, health care accessibility is top of mind for providers and lawmakers statewide. The call for better access is furthered by the global phenomenon of population aging and the closing of health clinics in rural regions due to provider shortages and financial constraints.
A significant part of the conversation revolves around the Inflation Reduction Act, passed two years ago. Griego discusses the Act’s role in lowering health care costs for older Americans through policies that direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to negotiate drug prices and cap out-of-pocket spending on lifesaving medications, including insulin. Economists have heralded the IRA for illustrating how legislative efforts can have a tangible impact on people’s lives.
Listening and streaming
Ending the interview, Griego shared her appreciation for CSU as a community partner in HHS’ health equity efforts.
“I really want to celebrate you and CSU for spending time on this important discussion,” Griego said. “It’s important to make sure that folks understand that CSU has played a significant role in identifying health disparities.”
Interested listeners can tune into living healthy longer on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or online at RedCircle to hear the full interview with Regional Director Griego.
