Establishes the interagency task force on health literacy

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of the interagency task force on health literacy

Purpose

To increase the knowledge of health literacy in the State of New York so that its' citizens can make more informed health decisions.

Summary of provisions

Section 238 of the education law is amended By adding a new section (238-b) Interagency task force on health literacy. This subsection establishes within the State University of New York, an interagency task force on health literacy to be administered according to the provisions of this section. The task force shall assist the health and human service agencies of this state in studying health literacy and developing recommendations for improving health literacy in this state. The SUNY Chancellor shall appoint a member of the SUNY school of public health faculty to chair the task force.

Subsection (3) of this bill stipulates who shall be invited to serve on the task force. Three representatives from state hospitals selected by the temporary president of the Senate and Speaker of The Assembly. The commissioners of the New York State Department of Health and of Children and Family Services. Representatives from the Medical Society of the State of New York, the New York Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics, the New York Cooperative Extension, The Albany College of Pharmacy, the Long Island University A.M. Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the New York State office of Minority Health, the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, the Health Insurance Industry, the Empire State Medical Association, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York City Department for the Aging, the Health Literacy Project Partnership of the New York City Mayor's office and United Way of New York City and the New York State Health Foundation.

Subsection (4) details what the task force shall do once it has identified groups at risk for low health literacy; examine whether providing appropriate health information to and increase the health literacy of the beneficiaries of public health services would increase the efficiency of health care providers and decrease expenditures. Examine the impact on health literacy of; rising costs, increasingly complex health treatments, an individual's age, and cultural and linguistic diversity.

Justification

Although New York has some existing health literacy initiatives, the legislature finds that a comprehensive statewide health literacy task force is a necessary and valuable step toward eliminating as much as practicable the negative outcomes that health literacy challenges create in the state. Health literacy shall mean an individual's ability to read, understand, and act appropriately on health care information.

Task force shall mean the interagency task force on health literacy. The task force's, responsibilities shall include but not limited to studying and evaluating the health literacy of the residents of this state; In doing so the task force will determine whether providing appropriate health information to and increasing the health literacy of the beneficiaries of public health services would increase the efficiency of health care providers and decrease expenditures.

Legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect December 1, 2009.