,,iv #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #dgj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #bg1 #bjai ,mr4 ,levin of ,california 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,gianforte1 ,mr4 ,rouda1 and ,mr4 ,cox of ,california7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce ,,resolution ,expressing support for the designation of ,october #a1 #bjai1 as ,national ,health ,literacy ,day to recognize the value of health literacy in transforming and improving health and healthcare for all people in the ,united ,states4 ,whereas health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain1 process1 and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions2 ,whereas1 based on a national assessment1 a majority of adults have intermediate health literacy1 while more than #ge million adults had basic or below basic health literacy2 ,whereas mental health literacy is defined as knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders that aid in their recognition1 management1 or prevention2 ,whereas good mental health literacy may lead to better outcomes for those with mental disorders1 particularly those with suicidal ideation1 either by facilitating early help-seeking or by helping others identify early signs of mental disorders and seek help on behalf of another2 ,whereas language differences1 cultural barriers1 and low health literacy have been described as a triple threat to effective health communication between providers and patients that could harm the delivery of quality care for communities of color2 ,whereas1 according to the ,agency for ,healthcare ,research and ,quality1 low health literacy is consistently associated with increased hospitalizations1 greater emergency care use1 lower use of mammography1 lower receipt of influenza vaccine1 poorer ability to demonstrate taking medications appropriately1 poorer ability to interpret labels and health messages1 and1 among seniors1 poorer overall health status and higher mortality2 ,whereas experts estimate that the cost of low health literacy to the ,united ,states economy is between #ajf billion to #bch billion annually2 ,whereas1 when health literacy is measured1 it has been shown that-- 7#a7 individuals with low health literacy scores had higher rates of diabetes1 obesity1 and high blood pressure2 7#b7 ,states with high health literacy have lower rates of diabetes1 obesity1 and high blood pressure and have lower costs of prescription drugs purchased under the ,medicare program under title ,,xviii of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie et seq47 than ,states with low health literacy2 and 7#c7 there is a strong correlation between health literacy and healthcare costs1 which are a serious challenge for individuals1 families1 and society as a whole2 ,whereas measuring health literacy is an objective process that produces results that can be scientifically obtained1 measured1 reported1 assessed1 improved1 and rewarded2 ,whereas1 while such measurement has already begun through data-driven means1 such measurement has not been systematically used to assess individual health literacy and improve the health system throughout the ,united ,states2 ,whereas health literacy holds great promise to transform the health consciousness of people in the ,united ,states and around the world1 and is essential for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system in preventing diseases and illness1 improving wellness and longevity1 improving patient care and outcomes1 and reducing healthcare costs2 ,whereas health literacy empowers individuals to better engage in their health and with trained health professionals and caregivers because they are better educated about their bodies and how they work2 ,whereas people have the right to health information that helps them make informed decisions1 and health education and services should be delivered in ways that are easy to understand and that improve health1 longevity1 and quality of life2 ,whereas knowledge of health and improvements in health literacy can encourage individuals to take action on their health that can improve their health status and lower their costs despite their health status2 ,whereas1 despite the breathtaking advances in reading literacy over the last century that have led to impressive economic1 societal1 and cultural advances1 there is little systematic effort in the ,united ,states to improve health literacy generally1 through public programs specifically and with individuals particularly2 ,whereas1 in #bjaj1 the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services produced a ,national ,action ,plan to ,improve ,health ,literacy that lays out seven goals1 including research and interventions to improve health literacy1 but that action plan does not directly encourage patients to become more health literate or knowledgeable1 has not been updated1 and the recommendations contained in such action plan have not been implemented or reviewed2 ,whereas it is necessary to continue activities that are foundational to healthcare modernization and improvement in the ,united ,states1 including-- 7#a7 improving health literacy1 ,,iq1 knowledge1 and education about how the body works and how to maintain health appropriately2 7#b7 promoting innovation in wellness and prevention2 and 7#c7 expanding rewards and incentives for healthy behavior2 and ,whereas organizations have recognized the month of ,october as ,health ,literacy month to encourage doctors and other health professionals to take an online health literacy assessment and provide education to improve patient engagement3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 expresses support for the designation of ,national ,health ,literacy ,day2 7#b7 encourages individuals to assess their health knowledge and literacy1 and urges the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to adopt new tools and incentives immediately to encourage individuals to assess and improve their health knowledge and literacy2 7#c7 calls on the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services to issue a new action plan on health literacy that-- 7,a7 includes specific recommendations and concrete steps to improve and incorporate incentives into healthcare payment and delivery models that will improve health literacy2 and 7,b7 reflects the changes in knowledge and science about health literacy and the evolution in healthcare payment and delivery2 and 7#d7 encourages all interested parties to promote health literacy to transform the health and healthcare system of the ,united ,states4