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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a health literacy plan developed by the statewide |
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health coordinating council and the inclusion of health literacy in |
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the state health plan. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 104.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivision (6) to read as follows: |
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(6) "Health literacy" means the degree to which an |
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individual has the capacity to find, understand, and use health |
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information and services to inform health-related decisions and |
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actions. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 104, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 104.0156 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 104.0156. HEALTH LITERACY PLAN. (a) The statewide |
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health coordinating council shall develop a long-range plan for |
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improving health literacy in this state. The council shall update |
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the plan at least once every two years. |
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(b) In developing the long-range plan, the statewide health |
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coordinating council shall study the economic impact of low health |
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literacy on state health programs and health insurance coverage for |
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state residents. The council shall: |
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(1) identify primary risk factors contributing to low |
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health literacy; |
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(2) examine methods for health care practitioners, |
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health care facilities, and other persons to address the health |
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literacy of patients and other health care consumers; |
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(3) examine the effectiveness of using quality |
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measures in state health programs to improve health literacy; |
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(4) identify strategies for expanding the use of plain |
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language instructions for patients; and |
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(5) examine the impact of improved health literacy on |
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enhancing patient safety, reducing preventable events, and |
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increasing medication adherence to attain greater |
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cost-effectiveness and better patient outcomes in the provision of |
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health care. |
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(c) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the statewide health coordinating council shall submit the |
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long-range plan developed or updated under this section to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and each member of the legislature. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 104.022(e) and (f), Health and Safety |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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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 among 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 improving health literacy |
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to attain greater cost-effectiveness and better patient outcomes in |
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the provision of health care; |
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(3) [(2)] propose strategies for incorporating |
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information technology in the service delivery system; |
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(4) [(3)] 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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(5) [(4)] provide direction for the state's |
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legislative and executive decision-making processes to implement |
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the strategies proposed by the plan. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |