Ideagen Radio
Ideagen Radio
Dr. Jean Accius: Health Equity Through Collaboration
Geographic destiny shouldn't determine your health destiny, yet your zip code remains one of the strongest predictors of how long and how well you'll live. Dr. Jean Accius, President and CEO of Creating Healthier Communities (CHC), brings this stark reality to light in our compelling conversation about health equity and cross-sector solutions.
Drawing from his unique career spanning private, public, and nonprofit leadership roles, Dr. Accius shares wisdom that crosses boundaries: "No organization can solve these issues in isolation." This multi-sectorial approach forms the backbone of his strategy at CHC, where partnerships between companies, government agencies, and nonprofits tackle barriers affecting health and longevity across communities.
The discussion takes on personal dimensions when Dr. Accius reveals the influence of his 101-year-old grandmother, who despite dementia, continues to provide wisdom with her consistent reminder to "be strong." This mantra anchors his leadership during challenging times, reflecting the resilience needed to address America's most pressing health challenges—particularly the crisis in aging care, where nursing home costs exceed $120,000 annually and family caregivers provide an estimated $660 billion in uncompensated care.
Perhaps most powerful is Dr. Accius framework for creating healthier communities through what he calls the "three P's": Personal responsibility for individual health choices, Public responsibility through government programs like Medicaid, and Private responsibility from businesses to create healthier workforces and communities. As technology and AI transform healthcare delivery, Dr. Accius emphasizes that we must ensure these advancements reach all communities equitably.
Ready to break down barriers to health in your community? Visit chcimpact.org to learn how you can partner with CHC in their mission to ensure every person, regardless of zip code, has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.
Welcome to the IdeaGen Catalyze Impact Podcast. Today I have the pleasure and privilege of having Dr Gene Axias, President and CEO of Creating Healthier Communities, CHC, with us, Gene, welcome.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you so much, George, for having me. I'm deeply honored to be part of having this conversation with you today.
Speaker 1:Gene, you know changing the world's not easy. You continue to inspire me and to do incredible things, and so for our global audience, on this incredible podcast we have here, your career spans the private, the public, the nonprofit sectors. Gene, how has this experience across the sectors shaped your approach to leadership and problem solving in the aging, health and long-term care sectors?
Speaker 2:Well, george, I think that's a great question and I think for many leaders, especially in this environment of turbulence, of uncertainty and complexity, we really have to be thinking about what are the ways to move our missions forward to meet the needs of those we serve in the environment in which we're in. So the opportunity to have had an opportunity to work in the private sector, to have worked in the public sector and to now work in the nonprofit sector is one that I bring with so much admiration and also humility, in part because of the fact that no one organization can solve these issues in isolation. It really does take a multi-sectorial approach, meaning the fact that no one organization can solve these issues in isolation. It really does take a multi-sectorial approach, meaning the fact that you have whether it's companies working with government or companies working with nonprofits or government working with nonprofits really looking at those partnerships as a means to really solve many of the barriers that impact people's health and longevity. So that is an amazing way to really think about solving very big and complex challenges facing our country.
Speaker 2:One of my favorite authors is Bryan Stevenson and he's the executive director of the Eco-Justice Initiative and he wrote the book called Just Mercy and in the book he says that you cannot be an effective problem solver from a distance. There are nuances and details you will miss unless you actually get close, and part of that getting close is understanding those nuances. And what I know for sure from working at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or working at AARP, or working for a huge retirement community in South Florida, or working for the state of Florida and the Department of Elder Affairs and now leading CHC Creating Healthier Communities, is the fact that many of these organizations and most of these sectors really have best of intentions in terms of trying to solve the challenges facing everyday people as they try to live their best lives.
Speaker 1:As the Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership at AARP and now President and CEO of CHC Creating Healthier Communities, gene, how do you see that intersection of aging, health and equity in shaping public policy and improving lives on a global scale?
Speaker 2:I think where you live matters. In fact, we know that your zip code is a clear indicator of your longevity, your life expectancy. In many cases, the quality of your life, whether that is actually here in the United States or abroad, where you live has huge implications for how long and how well you actually live. So the opportunity to have had the great fortune of working at AARP, leading the global thought leadership work, and to see how the issues of health care, equity, access, to understand that, whether or not you live in a rural community or you live in an urban community in the United States or you live abroad and you're part of a developed world or not, that at urban community in the United States or you live abroad and you're a part of a developed world or not that, at the end of the day, the fundamentals of do you see me, do you hear me? Does what I have to say matter, is a universal experience. The idea that the systems, or the lack thereof, actually puts the person and their families in the center or not, is a universal experience. The barriers that many communities actually face is a universal experience, and that universal experience varies by gender, it varies by geography, it varies by socioeconomic status. It varies by all the different factors that actually make us who we are as individuals. So the connections globally and specifically within the US are there. The US spends significantly more on health care, but yet we see worse outcomes. So the question is what can we actually learn from other countries in terms of exactly how they've been able to address the needs of their population in ways that not is only cost-effective but also produces better health outcomes, and what are the opportunities to bring those learnings here to the US, as well as what we've learned here in the United States in terms of exactly what are the innovations that are taking place and how do we actually scale those more broadly?
Speaker 2:Again, at the end of the day, george, health is so personal, and what I enjoy about the work that we do is that we know that when we talk about life expectancy, what we're really talking about is time Time to do the things that you care so deeply about. Time to engage with your family and your friends. Time to watch your kids grow old and get older and get married and hit all those different milestones. Time to do the things that bring you so much joy, and we know that, unfortunately, depending on where you live. That might actually impact how much time you have to do those things that you care so deeply about, that you care so deeply about. So at CHC, even when I was at AARP, that was something that we cared so deeply about is how do we actually close those gaps and ensure that, regardless of where you live, you have an equal opportunity to maximize your time here on Earth?
Speaker 1:Well and Gene, you've had a significant role in helping shape policies to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. What do you believe is the most pressing issue we need to address today to ensure equitable healthcare access for aging populations?
Speaker 2:There's a couple of things that I think that, particularly given where we are today, that is critically important. That when we invest in prevention, when we invest in ensuring that people have an opportunity to live their healthiest life whether that is ensuring that in your neighborhood you have a park that you can actually go and walk and play, whether that is ensuring that you have access to adequate health care, whether that is ensuring that you are able to have access to good food options and housing options in your locality is critically important. We notice that so much of your health actually happens outside of the healthcare system. It is where you eat, where you play, where you pray, where you work. So how do we ensure that all of those factors are really working in tandem to improve your overall health? So, if I could invest, if I could actually highlight some key areas of opportunity for us as leaders, whether that is in the private sector, in the public sector or in the nonprofit sector, it is to really think about a couple of things. One is what are we able to do within our sphere of control and influence to improve the health of those that we care so deeply about, meaning the fact that our workers, our workforce, our community. To what extent can we ensure that they have access to mental health services? Can we ensure that they actually have access to adequate prevention opportunities? Can we ensure that they actually have access to the tools that they need to actually be in the driver's seat of their own destiny and ensure that they are fully engaged in their own healthcare decisions? So I do think that there is an opportunity, as leaders across sectors, to think about health promotion, health information, health literacy, and that cuts across again all different communities across the country and globally. The second thing is that it is critically important to ensure that we are meeting the needs of an aging population and those that actually care for them.
Speaker 2:Unfortunately, in our country, we know that there is a lack of a system when it comes to actually providing care for older adults as relates to eating, bathing, dressing and their long-term care needs, and, in fact, medicaid is the primary payer for long-term services and supports in our country. If you need access to a nursing home, today, according to Genworth, the cost of a nursing home in the United States, for a private room, is over $120,000 a year. That is right, george over $120,000 a year. If you need help in terms of assisted living, you're looking at anywhere between $54,000 to $60,000 a year. Living, you're looking at anywhere between $54,000 to $60,000 a year. And then, if you need help with actually having someone come into your home to provide health care services, you're looking at somewhere around $40,000 a year.
Speaker 2:So the key point here is that it doesn't matter where you live in the United States, the cost of long-term care is unaffordable for the vast majority of older adults, and family caregivers, who are oftentimes unpaid, really take on the emotion of the financial and physical expenses of providing this care.
Speaker 2:They spend roughly 20% of their dollars out of pocket to support their family members.
Speaker 2:They are what I refer to as first responders in the delivery of long-term care, actually helping to preserve about $660 billion of uncompensated care that, in the absence of family caregivers, the government would have to actually pick up. So we have some work to do and, as we have these conversations around Medicaid in particular, I think it's important for all of your viewers to understand that this would have a direct impact on older adults and the families who care so deeply about them, that this would have a direct impact on your workers who are caregivers and rely on Medicaid to support their families or themselves. So this conversation that is taking place in DC currently around potential reform in the Medicaid program really impacts all of us Republicans, conservatives, independents, democrats. In fact, there was a Kaiser poll that actually indicated that the overwhelming majority of the population actually supports the Medicaid program, and I think that's an important thing for us to be thinking about, because it also has huge economic implications in terms of jobs at the local level, as well as meeting the needs of those who need it the most.
Speaker 1:And so, gene, your leadership at CHC clearly is helping to assist the most vulnerable. And I want to shift a bit to giants Now. We all stand on the shoulders of giants and for you, one of those giants was your grandmother. How did your grandmother, how did your grandmother and I had one of those grandmothers, so we share that. How did your grandmother influence your work today and your focus and your leadership?
Speaker 2:Well, george, I really appreciate that question. My grandmother is still with us. She's 101 years old. She has dementia mild to sometimes very severe, depending on the day but I will tell you that I continue to learn from her, that learning never actually stops.
Speaker 2:I had an opportunity to see her a couple of months ago and I try to see her as often as I can, and even though she's bedridden she's bed bound, if you will she has a lot of strength. I mean, she is strong. She is physically strong and mentally strong. I chuckle, in part because of the fact that every time she sees me, she says be strong, remember who you are, Be strong. And I tell you that in the toughest of days, I have to channel that in order to get through the day and in order to be able to be anchored. To get through the day and in order to be able to be anchored, this idea and this watching my grandmother really do so much with so little, and even at the age of 101 years old, being bedridden, and their day. She doesn't even know who I am, but she sensed who I am and she would hold my hand and say be strong. And the other aspect of this, too, is that she clearly understand her boundaries, and that is something that I've really appreciated about my grandmother, even at 101 years old. I mean, you see me kind of chuckling, because the last time I was with her she refused to eat, and when I tried to convince her I said, hey, grandma, please eat something for me. And she's like no, I am not going to eat, I don't want that right now. So she really understands her preferences, but it's that spirit of strength, that spirit that you know she has dementia, but dementia doesn't have her, if that makes sense. That even though that there are days where she cannot remember who I am, there are also days where she sits there and gives wise counsel and says be strong. And I think that is the North Star.
Speaker 2:She raised me from the time of my birth to the age of four and then she lived with us as I was going through high school and I learned a lot from her. Again, this is someone who didn't have a lot, but she continues to be spiritually rich. She continues to through her actions, continual dedication and her continual commitment to envisioning something that I did not see when I was growing up my grandma did not have a college education. She did not have a high school education. She could not read nor could she write, but yet every morning she would wake up and she would go out there into the marketplace to ensure that and sell goods and services and products, to ensure that I can actually get an education.
Speaker 2:Before I came to the United States at the age of four, when she moved to the country and I was in high school and at that point in time high schools for me started around like 730 in the morning my grandmother because she could not tell time would wake up at five o'clock in the morning and say hey, coco, that's my nickname, yes, I will say that publicly. She would say it's time to get up and get ready for school. She understood the value of education as a vehicle for upward mobility and she was very determined to see me succeed, even when I could not see that in myself, and for that I'm forever grateful.
Speaker 1:You know, gene, so incredibly inspiring to hear how the giants in your life, in this case your grandmother, has impacted you, 101 years old and so amazing to hear those words of wisdom. And so amazing to hear those words of wisdom which two words be strong. How that can change someone's life, how that can be a reminder. And, at 101, I think we have to listen to your grandmother and say, if she's saying be strong, and you're highlighting how mentally tough she is, that's one example of the way we need to live our lives. We need to be strong. I mean, that's such great advice because we all have those moments where you're like gosh, you know. Whatever it is, you know. And so, as we prepare to conclude this just profound interview, what role, gene, do you see technology playing in the future? I mean, we're seeing AI clearly changing the world already and, specifically, how do you see it impacting the future of healthcare, aging, and how can we ensure, gene, that it is used in ways that benefit everyone, including those that are marginalized?
Speaker 2:So thank you for that question, george. I had an opportunity to participate at a forum and it was around consumer engagement in their own health care, and in that forum, there's a discussion around the different tools and technology that is available now to really empower consumers to be in the driver's seat of their own destiny, and I fully support that, whether that is the use of AI or the use of apps, or you know, I have this aura ring and I tell you, ever since I got it, I've been more intentional about my health. You have the apps on your cell phone that is basically able to track the number of steps or your heartbeat or your sleep patterns. I think all of those are extremely helpful in terms of building a much healthier life. I also think that, with the use of AI and the ability for AI and these different technology platforms to help providers with focusing more on the patient experience, on the consumer experience, is also a tremendous value add, and I also think that there's an opportunity, particularly through technology and how that is literally revolutionizing how care is being delivered and provided and communicated in our country. It's going to be extremely beneficial for us, both in terms of improving our overall quality of life, as well as improving and adding to the number of years we have with quality of life.
Speaker 2:I also think that there's an opportunity for us to be very intentional about technology, the apps, the tools, ai and all the different forms in terms of ensuring that individuals are not actually left behind, and what I mean by that is the fact that, when we think about the future of healthcare, we have to look at it from what I refer to as the three Ps that there's a personal responsibility. I am responsible for my personal health and my personal health choices. There is a public responsibility, right, meaning the fact that what is the role of government we just talked about government Medicaid and then that there's also a private responsibility. What are the responsibilities of the private sector, businesses in ensuring that they are creating a healthier workforce and a healthier community in terms of their place of employment? So these three P's are critically important.
Speaker 2:In addition to that, there's a system level, meaning the fact that it is important to realize that there are system improvements that we can actually look at to improve with regards to how care is delivered across our country and ensuring that the delivery of healthcare, healthcare services, these technology tools, are evenly distributed, particularly in communities that have limited resources, and I think that's critically important, meaning the fact that all the onus cannot be on the individual, because the complexity of our healthcare system is such that oftentimes the needs and the experiences of the individual are an afterthought rather than at the center.
Speaker 2:And, particularly if you come from a marginalized community, you're often in the margins of the system itself, so that as we move forward, as we think about the future of healthcare, it's going to be incumbent upon all of us to be intentional about who's not actually receiving these services, who are being left behind. What could we potentially do to ensure that we are embedding the lived experiences of every single person? And the development of the products, and then also the acceptability and affordability of those products, I think is going to be critically important. Otherwise, what I fear, if we are not intentional thinking about the collective, if we're not intentional thinking about how interdependent we are as a society that the disparities that we actually see with regards to health care and the differences in life expectancy will only get worse.
Speaker 1:Dr Gene Axios, President and CEO of Creating Healthier Communities. Gene, what is your call to action for our global audience and how can folks find out more about all the incredible work you're doing at CHC?
Speaker 2:Well, first of all, I just want to thank you, george. I think these platforms are critically important because we have an opportunity to learn from each other and to think about ways where we can actually collaborate. As I mentioned earlier, it's critically important for us to think about partnerships. As an organization, chc Creating Healthier Communities has been around for over 70 years. We touch about 5,000 nonprofits on an annual basis, over 600 businesses, and we're in communities across the country. So we want to join forces with organizations and individuals who care deeply about frankly ensuring that every community is healthy and that every single person, regardless of your zip code, has an opportunity to live their healthiest life.
Speaker 2:We believe very strongly in the administration's focus to make America healthier again and that this has to be a generational cause.
Speaker 2:So, with that, I ask your viewers to join us, because what we're doing here is really breaking down those barriers and ensuring that every single person has an opportunity to maximize their time on earth, doing the things that they care so deeply about and contributing to our collective society and the fabric that make us all human. So, with that, please visit us at chcimpactorg. Learn more about the work that we actually are doing to break down barriers across the country Partner with us. We have global companies who are engaged with us, and we're also very engaged in what we refer to as our Leadership Council for Healthier Communities, which is a group of global leaders who are extremely committed to addressing the barriers to health and community health and well-being overall. So, george, I just want to thank you. I want to thank you for your leadership, I thank you for your passion. I thank you for your ability to convene thought leaders and change makers across different sectors and industries to solve, frankly, only the toughest challenges that we can only solve together.
Speaker 1:Dr Gene Axios, President and CEO of Creating Healthier Communities. You're leading the way, my friend. Thanks for all you're doing to change the world.
Speaker 2:Thank you for your leadership and thank you for your partnership, George. I greatly appreciate our time together. Thank you, Gene.