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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring the statewide health coordinating council and |
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state health plan to examine and report on the impact of low health |
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literacy on consumers and the health care system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 104, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding a Section 104.002 (6) to read as follows: |
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(6) "Health literacy" means the degree to which individuals |
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have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health |
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information and services needed to make appropriate health |
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decisions. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 104, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding a Section 104.0157 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 104.0157. HEALTH LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) |
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The statewide health coordinating council shall form an advisory |
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committee on health literacy. The committee must include |
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representatives of interested groups, including the academic |
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community, consumer groups, health plans, pharmacies, and |
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associations of physicians, hospitals, and nurses. |
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(b) The advisory committee shall develop a long-range plan |
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for increasing health literacy in Texas, including identifying key |
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risk factors for low health literacy, examining methods for health |
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care providers, facilities, and others to address health literacy |
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with patients and the public, examine the effectiveness of using |
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quality measures in state health programs to improve health |
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literacy, identifying ways to expand the use of plain language |
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instructions for patients, identifying ways increasing health |
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literacy can improve patient safety, reduce preventable events and |
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increase medication adherence in pursuit of greater |
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cost-effectiveness and better patient outcomes in health care. In |
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developing the long-range plan, the advisory committee shall study |
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the economic impact of low health literacy on state health care |
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programs and on insurance coverage for residents of this state. |
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(c) The advisory committee shall elect a presiding officer. |
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(d) Members of the advisory committee serve without |
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compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for the members' |
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travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code, and |
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the General Appropriations Act. |
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(e) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee. |
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(f) Meetings of the advisory committee under this section |
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are subject to Chapter 551, Government Code. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 104, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by amending Sec. 104.022(e)(1) adding a new Sec. 104.022(f)(2) to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 104.022. STATE HEALTH PLAN. (a) Information needed |
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for the development of the state health plan shall be gathered |
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through systematic methods designed to include local, regional, and |
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statewide perspectives. |
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(b) The statewide health coordinating council, in |
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consultation with the commission, shall issue overall directives |
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for the development of the state health plan. |
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(c) The department shall consult with the Department of |
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Aging and Disability Services, the commission, and other |
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appropriate health-related state agencies designated by the |
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governor before performing the duties and functions prescribed by |
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state and federal law regarding the development of the state health |
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plan. |
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(d) The statewide health coordinating council shall provide |
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guidance to the department in developing the state health plan. |
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(e) The state health plan shall be developed and used in |
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accordance with applicable state and federal law. The plan must |
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identify: |
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(1) major statewide health concerns, including the |
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prevalence of low health literacy for health care consumers; |
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(2) the availability and use of current health |
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resources of the state, including resources associated with |
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information technology and state-supported institutions of higher |
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education; and |
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(3) future health service, information technology, |
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and facility needs of the state. |
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(f) The state health plan must: |
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(1) propose strategies for the correction of major |
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deficiencies in the service delivery system; |
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(2) propose strategies for increasing health literacy |
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in pursuit of greater cost-effectiveness and better patient |
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outcomes in health care; |
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[(2)](3) propose strategies for incorporating |
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information technology in the service delivery system; |
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[(3)](4) propose strategies for involving |
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state-supported institutions of higher education in providing |
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health services and for coordinating those efforts with health and |
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human services agencies in order to close gaps in services; and |
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[(4)](5) provide direction for the state's legislative |
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and executive decision-making processes to implement the |
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strategies proposed by the plan. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect takes effect September 1, |
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2017. |