By: Arévalo, Coleman, Oliverson, Collier, H.B. No. 3682       Sheffield       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requiring the statewide health coordinating council and   state health plan to examine and report on the impact of low health   literacy on consumers and the health care system.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 104, Health and Safety Code, is amended   by adding a Section 104.002 (6) to read as follows:          (6)  "Health literacy" means the degree to which individuals   have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health   information and services needed to make appropriate health   decisions.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 104, Health and Safety Code, is amended   by adding a Section 104.0157 to read as follows:          Sec. 104.0157.  HEALTH LITERACY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)   The statewide health coordinating council shall form an advisory   committee on health literacy. The committee must include   representatives of interested groups, including the academic   community, consumer groups, health plans, pharmacies, and   associations of physicians, hospitals, and nurses.          (b)  The advisory committee shall develop a long-range plan   for increasing health literacy in Texas, including identifying key   risk factors for low health literacy, examining methods for health   care providers, facilities, and others to address health literacy   with patients and the public, examine the effectiveness of using   quality measures in state health programs to improve health   literacy, identifying ways to expand the use of plain language   instructions for patients, identifying ways increasing health   literacy can improve patient safety, reduce preventable events and   increase medication adherence in pursuit of greater   cost-effectiveness and better patient outcomes in health care. In   developing the long-range plan, the advisory committee shall study   the economic impact of low health literacy on state health care   programs and on insurance coverage for residents of this state.            (c)  The advisory committee shall elect a presiding officer.          (d)  Members of the advisory committee serve without   compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for the members'   travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code, and   the General Appropriations Act.          (e)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the   size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee.          (f)  Meetings of the advisory committee under this section   are subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.          SECTION 3.  Chapter 104, Health and Safety Code, is amended   by amending Sec. 104.022(e)(1) adding a new Sec. 104.022(f)(2) to   read as follows:          Sec. 104.022.  STATE HEALTH PLAN. (a) Information needed   for the development of the state health plan shall be gathered   through systematic methods designed to include local, regional, and   statewide perspectives.          (b)  The statewide health coordinating council, in   consultation with the commission, shall issue overall directives   for the development of the state health plan.          (c)  The department shall consult with the Department of   Aging and Disability Services, the commission, and other   appropriate health-related state agencies designated by the   governor before performing the duties and functions prescribed by   state and federal law regarding the development of the state health   plan.          (d)  The statewide health coordinating council shall provide   guidance to the department in developing the state health plan.          (e)  The state health plan shall be developed and used in   accordance with applicable state and federal law. The plan must   identify:                (1)  major statewide health concerns, including the   prevalence of low health literacy for health care consumers;                (2)  the availability and use of current health   resources of the state, including resources associated with   information technology and state-supported institutions of higher   education; and                (3)  future health service, information technology,   and facility needs of the state.          (f)  The state health plan must:                (1)  propose strategies for the correction of major   deficiencies in the service delivery system;                (2)  propose strategies for increasing health literacy   in pursuit of greater cost-effectiveness and better patient   outcomes in health care;                [(2)](3)  propose strategies for incorporating   information technology in the service delivery system;                [(3)](4)  propose strategies for involving   state-supported institutions of higher education in providing   health services and for coordinating those efforts with health and   human services agencies in order to close gaps in services; and                [(4)](5)  provide direction for the state's legislative   and executive decision-making processes to implement the   strategies proposed by the plan.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect takes effect September 1,   2017.