Johnson Bill Orders A Health Literacy Plan Every Two Years

The text as introduced · 546 words

89R1029 SRA-F

By: Johnson
S.B. No. 641

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a health literacy plan developed by the statewide

health coordinating council and the inclusion of health literacy in

the state health plan.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 104.002, Health and Safety Code, is

amended by adding Subdivision (6) to read as follows:

(6) "Health literacy" means the degree to which an

individual has the capacity to find, understand, and use health

information and services to inform health-related decisions and

actions.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 104, Health and Safety

Code, is amended by adding Section 104.0156 to read as follows:

Sec. 104.0156. HEALTH LITERACY PLAN. (a) The statewide

health coordinating council shall develop a long-range plan for

improving health literacy in this state. The council shall update

the plan at least once every two years.

(b) In developing the long-range plan, the statewide health

coordinating council shall study the economic impact of low health

literacy on state health programs and health insurance coverage for

state residents. The council shall:

(1) identify primary risk factors contributing to low

health literacy;

(2) examine methods for health care practitioners,

health care facilities, and other persons to address the health

literacy of patients and other health care consumers;

(3) examine the effectiveness of using quality

measures in state health programs to improve health literacy;

(4) identify strategies for expanding the use of plain

language instructions for patients; and

(5) examine the impact of improved health literacy on

enhancing patient safety, reducing preventable events, and

increasing medication adherence to attain greater

cost-effectiveness and better patient outcomes in the provision of

health care.

(c) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,

the statewide health coordinating council shall submit the

long-range plan developed or updated under this section to the

governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of

representatives, and each member of the legislature.

SECTION 3. Sections 104.022(e) and (f), Health and Safety

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(e) The state health plan shall be developed and used in

accordance with applicable state and federal law. The plan must

identify:

(1) major statewide health concerns , including the

prevalence of low health literacy among health care consumers ;

(2) the availability and use of current health

resources of the state, including resources associated with

information technology and state-supported institutions of higher

education; and

(3) future health service, information technology,

and facility needs of the state.

(f) The state health plan must:

(1) propose strategies for :

(A) correcting [ the correction of ] major

deficiencies in the service delivery system;

(B) improving health literacy to attain greater

cost-effectiveness and better patient outcomes in the provision of

health care;

(C) [ (2) propose strategies for ] incorporating

information technology in the service delivery system; and

(D) [ (3) propose strategies for ] involving

state-supported institutions of higher education in providing

health services and for coordinating those efforts with health and

human services agencies in order to close gaps in services; and

(2) [ (4) ] provide direction for the state's

legislative and executive decision-making processes to implement

the strategies proposed by the plan.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.