| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of a multi-stakeholder advisory |
|
|
committee on health literacy. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 1002, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Subchapter F to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER F. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH |
|
|
LITERACY |
|
|
Sec. 1002.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|
|
(1) "Advisory committee" means the multi-stakeholder |
|
|
advisory committee on health literacy established under this |
|
|
subchapter. |
|
|
(2) "Health literacy" means the degree to which an |
|
|
individual has the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and |
|
|
understand basic health information and services so the person may |
|
|
make appropriate decisions about the treatment, payment, or |
|
|
coverage of health care and navigate complexities in the health |
|
|
care system. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.252. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON |
|
|
HEALTH LITERACY. The institute shall establish a multi-stakeholder |
|
|
advisory committee on health literacy to study and make |
|
|
recommendations to improve health literacy in this state. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.253. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. The |
|
|
advisory committee is composed of: |
|
|
(1) three members of the board selected by the |
|
|
presiding officer of the board; |
|
|
(2) a representative from each of the following |
|
|
agencies, selected by the executive head of the agency: |
|
|
(A) the Department of Aging and Disability |
|
|
Services; |
|
|
(B) the center for elimination of |
|
|
disproportionality and disparities; |
|
|
(C) the Employees Retirement System of Texas; |
|
|
(D) the Teacher Retirement System of Texas; and |
|
|
(E) each state agency or system of higher |
|
|
education that purchases or provides health care services, as |
|
|
determined by the governor; |
|
|
(3) the following representatives appointed by the |
|
|
governor: |
|
|
(A) three employers domiciled in this state; and |
|
|
(B) three health care consumers; and |
|
|
(4) the following ex officio members: |
|
|
(A) the commissioner or the commissioner's |
|
|
designee; |
|
|
(B) the commissioner of insurance or the |
|
|
commissioner of insurance's designee; and |
|
|
(C) the state Medicaid director of the commission |
|
|
or the director's designee. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.254. PRESIDING OFFICER. The board shall appoint |
|
|
from among the members of the advisory committee a presiding |
|
|
officer and an assistant presiding officer. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.255. VACANCY. A vacancy on the advisory |
|
|
committee shall be filled by appointment in the same manner as the |
|
|
original appointment. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.256. MEETINGS. The advisory committee shall meet |
|
|
at the call of the presiding officer. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.257. DUTIES. (a) The advisory committee shall: |
|
|
(1) develop an expanded definition of health literacy |
|
|
that includes a focus on a patient's need for transparent |
|
|
information about the cost and quality of health care and available |
|
|
treatment options; |
|
|
(2) examine the impact of low health literacy on |
|
|
health care cost and quality outcomes; and |
|
|
(3) develop policy recommendations, based on the |
|
|
findings of the advisory committee, to: |
|
|
(A) promote the use of plain language by health |
|
|
care providers; |
|
|
(B) promote the use of simplified enrollment |
|
|
forms; |
|
|
(C) develop health literacy resources for both |
|
|
providers and consumers of health care; and |
|
|
(D) develop programs to support improved health |
|
|
literacy. |
|
|
(b) The advisory committee may consult with and invite |
|
|
participation from groups, organizations, and agencies as needed to |
|
|
accomplish the goals of the committee. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.258. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The institute shall |
|
|
provide administrative support for the advisory committee. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.259. REPORT. (a) The advisory committee shall |
|
|
prepare a report that includes the committee's findings and policy |
|
|
recommendations under Section 1002.257. |
|
|
(b) Not later than October 1, 2016, the advisory committee |
|
|
shall submit the report required under this section to the |
|
|
institute for inclusion in the institute's biennial report and |
|
|
recommendations to the legislature. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.260. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. Members of the |
|
|
advisory committee serve without compensation and may not be |
|
|
reimbursed for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting |
|
|
the business of the advisory committee. |
|
|
Sec. 1002.261. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee is |
|
|
abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2017. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2015, the appropriate |
|
|
appointing authorities shall appoint the members of the |
|
|
multi-stakeholder advisory committee on health literacy in |
|
|
accordance with Subchapter F, Chapter 1002, Health and Safety Code, |
|
|
as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |