[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 396 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 396

    Designating October 2019 as ``National Health Literacy Month''.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 31, 2019

Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Scott 
   of South Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Designating October 2019 as ``National Health Literacy Month''.

Whereas health literacy is the degree to which individuals can obtain and 
        understand basic health information in order to make informed health 
        decisions;
Whereas, according to the latest national assessment of health literacy, a 
        majority of adults have intermediate health literacy, while more than 
        75,000,000 adults have basic or below basic health literacy;
Whereas language and cultural differences can affect health literacy and thereby 
        lower effective health communication between providers and patients;
Whereas, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, low health 
        literacy is associated with higher rates of emergency care use, 
        increased hospitalizations, and, among seniors, higher mortality;
Whereas the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality also found that low 
        health literacy can be associated with a lack of medication adherence;
Whereas experts estimate that the annual cost of low health literacy to the 
        United States economy is between $106,000,000,000 and $238,000,000,000;
Whereas mental health literacy may lead to better outcomes for individuals with 
        mental disorders, particularly individuals with suicidal ideation, 
        either by facilitating early help-seeking by those individuals or 
        helping others identify early signs of mental disorders and seek help on 
        behalf of those individuals;
Whereas health literacy can assist in preventing disease and illness, increasing 
        life expectancy, improving patient care and outcomes, and reducing 
        health care costs;
Whereas, in 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a National 
        Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy that establishes 7 goals; and
Whereas advocacy organizations have recognized the month of October as 
        ``National Health Literacy Month'' to increase awareness about the 
        importance of making health information easy to understand: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates October 2019 as ``National Health Literacy 
        Month'';
            (2) encourages individuals to assess and improve their 
        health knowledge and literacy;
            (3) recommends that health care providers deliver health 
        services in a clear and comprehensive manner; and
            (4) encourages all interested parties to promote the 
        importance of health literacy.
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