A resolution designating October 2019 as "National Health Literacy Month".

Bill: 116-sres-396
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2019-10-31
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Adult education and literacy

Commemorative events and holidays

Health promotion and preventive care
Latest action: action_date: 2019-11-06
text: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (text: 2019/10/31 CR S6340)

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-10-31
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>This resolution designates October 2019 as National Health Literacy Month, encourages people to improve their health knowledge, and recommends that health care providers deliver health services clearly and comprehensively.</p>

action_date: 2019-11-06
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This resolution designates October 2019 as National Health Literacy Month, encourages people to improve their health knowledge, and recommends that health care providers deliver health services clearly and comprehensively.</p>

tv_txt: III 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 396 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

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.

tv_txt: III 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 396 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 November 6, 2019 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 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

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.