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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a multi-stakeholder advisory |
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committee on health literacy. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH |
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LITERACY |
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Sec. 1001.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Advisory committee" means the multi-stakeholder |
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advisory committee on health literacy established under this |
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subchapter. |
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(2) "Health literacy" means the degree to which an |
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individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and |
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understand basic health information and services so the person may |
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make appropriate decisions about the treatment, payment, or |
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coverage of health care and navigate complexities in the health |
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care system. |
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Sec. 1001.252. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON |
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HEALTH LITERACY. The department shall establish a |
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multi-stakeholder advisory committee on health literacy to study |
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and make recommendations to improve health literacy in this state. |
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Sec. 1001.253. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The |
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advisory committee is composed of: |
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(1) three representatives of the department selected |
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by the commissioner; |
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(2) a representative from each of the following |
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agencies, selected by the executive head of the agency: |
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(A) the Health and Human Services Commission; |
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(B) the center for elimination of |
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disproportionality and disparities; |
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(C) the Employees Retirement System of Texas; |
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(D) the Teacher Retirement System of Texas; and |
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(E) each state agency or system of higher |
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education that purchases or provides health care services, as |
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determined by the governor; |
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(3) the following representatives appointed by the |
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governor: |
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(A) three employers domiciled in this state; and |
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(B) three health care consumers; and |
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(4) the following ex officio members: |
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(A) the commissioner of insurance or the |
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commissioner of insurance's designee; and |
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(B) the state Medicaid director of the commission |
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or the director's designee. |
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Sec. 1001.254. PRESIDING OFFICER. The commissioner shall |
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appoint from among the members of the advisory committee a |
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presiding officer and an assistant presiding officer. |
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Sec. 1001.255. VACANCY. A vacancy on the advisory |
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committee shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the |
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original appointment. |
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Sec. 1001.256. MEETINGS. The advisory committee shall meet |
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at the call of the presiding officer. |
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Sec. 1001.257. DUTIES. (a) The advisory committee shall: |
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(1) develop an expanded definition of health literacy |
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that includes a focus on a patient's need for transparent |
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information about the cost and quality of health care and available |
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treatment options; |
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(2) examine the impact of low health literacy on |
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health care cost and quality outcomes; and |
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(3) develop policy recommendations, based on the |
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findings of the advisory committee, to: |
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(A) promote the use of plain language by health |
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care providers; |
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(B) promote the use of simplified enrollment |
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forms; |
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(C) develop health literacy resources for both |
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providers and consumers of health care; and |
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(D) develop programs to support improved health |
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literacy. |
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(b) The advisory committee may consult with and invite |
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participation from groups, organizations, and agencies as needed to |
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accomplish the goals of the committee. |
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Sec. 1001.258. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The department |
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shall provide administrative support for the advisory committee. |
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Sec. 1001.259. REPORT. (a) The advisory committee shall |
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prepare a report that includes the committee's findings and policy |
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recommendations under Section 1001.257. |
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(b) Not later than October 1, 2018, the advisory committee |
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shall submit the report required under this section to the |
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legislature. |
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Sec. 1001.260. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. Members of the |
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advisory committee serve without compensation and may not be |
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reimbursed for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting |
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the business of the advisory committee. |
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Sec. 1001.261. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee is |
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abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2017, the appropriate |
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appointing authorities shall appoint the members of the |
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multi-stakeholder advisory committee on health literacy in |
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accordance with Subchapter J, Chapter 1001, Health and Safety Code, |
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as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |