,,iii  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #cif  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!
 ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,octob] #ca1 #bjai,mr4
 ,murphy 7= himself1 ,mrs4 ,hyde-,smi?1 
,mr4 ,van ,holl51 & ,mr4 ,scott ( ,s\?  
,c>ol9a7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2  
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !       
,judici>y  ,,resolution  ,designat+     
,octob] #bjai z ,national ,heal?        
,lit]acy ,mon?4  ,:]eas heal? lit]acy is
 ! degree to :i* individuals c obta9 &  
und]/& basic heal? in=mation 9 ord] to  
make in=m$ heal? decisions2 ,:]eas1     
accord+ to ! late/ national assessm5t ( 
heal? lit]acy1 a majority ( adults h    
int]m$iate heal? lit]acy1 :ile m ?an    
#ge1jjj1jjj adults h basic or bel[ basic
 heal? lit]acy2 ,:]eas language &       
cultural diff]5ces c affect heal?       
lit]acy & !reby l[] effective heal?     
communication betwe5 provid]s & pati5ts2
 ,:]eas1 accord+ to ! ,ag5cy = ,heal?c>e
 ,rese>* & ,quality1 l[ heal? lit]acy is
 associat$ ) high] rates ( em]g5cy c>e  
use1 increas$ hospitalizations1 &1 among

 s5iors1 high] mortality2 ,:]eas !      
,ag5cy = ,heal?c>e ,rese>* & ,quality   
also f\nd t l[ heal? lit]acy c be       
associat$ ) a lack ( m$ication adh]5ce2 
,:]eas exp]ts e/imate t ! annual co/ (  
l[ heal? lit]acy to ! ,unit$ ,/ates     
economy is betwe5 #ajf1jjj1jjj1jjj &    
#bch1jjj1jjj1jjj2 ,:]eas m5tal heal?    
lit]acy may lead to bett] outcomes =    
individuals ) m5tal disord]s1 p>ticul>ly
 individuals ) suicidal ideation1 ei!r  
by facilitat+ e>ly help-seek+ by ^?     
individuals or help+ o!rs id5tify e>ly  
signs ( m5tal disord]s & seek help on   
behalf ( ^? individuals2 ,:]eas heal?   
lit]acy c assi/ 9 prev5t+ disease &     
illness1 increas+ life expectancy1      
improv+ pati5t c>e & outcomes1 & r$uc+  
heal? c>e co/s2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjaj1 !      
,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices    
issu$ a ,national ,action ,plan to      
,improve ,heal? ,lit]acy t e/abli%es #g 
goals2 & ,:]eas advocacy organizations h
 recogniz$ ! mon? ( ,octob] z ,national 
,heal? ,lit]acy ,mon? to increase       

aw>5ess ab\t ! importance ( mak+ heal?  
in=mation easy to und]/&3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be
 x  ,t ! ,s5ate-- 7#a7 designates       
,octob] #bjai z ,national ,heal?        
,lit]acy ,mon?2  7#b7 enc\rages         
individuals to assess & improve _! heal?
 k & lit]acy2  7#c7 recomm5ds t heal?   
c>e provid]s deliv] heal? s]vices 9 a   
cle> & compreh5sive mann]2 &  7#d7      
enc\rages all int]e/$ p>ties to promote 
! importance ( heal? lit]acy4