By: Bonnen of Galveston	H.B. No. 3105

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	Relating to the establishment of a multi-stakeholder taskforce on
	health literacy in Texas.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 1002, Texas Health and
	Safety Code, is amended by adding Sec. 1002.001(13) and Sec.
	1002.001 (14) to read as follows:
	(13)  "Health Literacy" means the degree to which
	individuals have the capacity to obtain, communicate, process, and
	understand basic health information and services to make
	appropriate health decisions in the treatment, payment, or
	coverage of care while successfully navigating complex health care
	systems.
	(14)  "Task Force" means the Multi-Stakeholder
	Taskforce on Health Literacy
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 1002, Texas Health and Safety Code, is
	amended by adding Subchapter F. HEALTH LITERACY to read as follows:
	Sec. 1002.203.  MULTI-STAKEHOLDER TASKFORCE ON HEALTH
	LITERACY. (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, the Texas Institute
	of Health Care Quality & Efficiency shall establish the task force
	to
	(b)  Establish a broad definition of health literacy, to
	include a focus on the patient's need for transparent information
	about health care cost, quality, and treatment options.
	(c)  Examine impact of low health literacy on health care
	cost and quality outcomes.
	(d)  Develop policy recommendations and submit a brief to the
	Institute for inclusion in the Institute's biennial report to the
	Legislature and Health and Human Services Enterprise no later than
	December 31, 2016 related to
	(i)  Promotion of plain language by health
	care providers and simplified enrollment forms.
	(ii)  Development of health literacy
	resources for health care providers and residents of Texas.
	(iii)  Development of programs to support
	residents of this state in understanding health care information.
	Section 1002.204 COMPOSITION OF THE HEALTH LITERACY
	TASKFORCE (a) the following representatives shall be identified by
	the Institute and invited to serve on the taskforce:
	(b)
	The following members shall be invited to serve on the
	taskforce:
	(i)  Three members of the Institute of the
	board of directors to be selected by the chair of the board
	(ii)  The commissioner of insurance
	(iii)  The commissioner of the health
	department
	(iv)  The state Medicaid director
	(v)  A representative of the aging and
	disability services
	(vi)  A representative of the center for
	disparities and disproportionality
	(vii)  A representative of the Employees
	Retirement System of Texas
	(viii)  A representative of the Teachers
	Retirement System of Texas
	(ix)  A representative from each state
	agency or system of higher education that purchases or provides
	health care services as determined by the board.
	(x)  Three employers domiciled in Texas
	(xi)  Three consumer representatives
	(c)  The chair of the board shall appoint a lead and
	vice-lead to facilitate taskforce activities.
	(d)  The taskforce may consult with and invite participation
	from other groups, organizations, and agencies as needed.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.