2025 House Resolution 199

Whereas, The American Medical Association recognizes limited health literacy as a stronger predictor of poor health status and outcomes than age, race, education level, socioeconomic status, or employment status; and

Whereas, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services adopts two definitions that when combined constitute health literacy; Personal Health Literacy: the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health related decisions and actions for themselves and others; and Organizational Health Literacy: the degree to which organizations enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves; and

Whereas, October has been recognized as Health Literacy Month internationally since 1999. It has been recognized by federal organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Thirteen states have recognized October as Health Literacy Month in the past 15 years to raise awareness about the importance of health literacy and its effects on health status and outcomes; and

Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 9 in 10 Americans have limited health literacy and lack the skills necessary to manage their health and prevent diseases, to seek and obtain health care, and communicate effectively with their providers. Limited health literacy affects individuals across every segment of the population, regardless of if individuals possess strong literacy skills or higher education. Promoting clear and understandable health information can assist individuals take greater responsibility for their well-being; and

Whereas, It is estimated that the burden of unaddressed limited health literacy represents between 7 to 17% of all national personal health expenditures and costs the U.S. healthcare system $106 to $238 billion a year. Limited health literacy is associated with: 1) An increased risk of sentinel events; 2) Worse overall health status; 3) Reduced ability to understand health messages; 4) Limited ability to follow and adhere to medication instructions and understand labels; 5) Lower likelihood of seeking or receiving preventative care; 6) Greater use of the emergency department and increased hospitalizations; 7) Lower satisfaction with care; 8) Shorter life expectancy. These risks are preventable when health literacy is addressed; and

Whereas, Health literacy training for providers of any experience level is shown to improve patient health literacy and prevent patient-provider miscommunication which poses risks such as sentinel events. However, health literacy practices, such as the use of plain language, are not consistently included in curriculum within health professional’s training at schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Allied Healthcare across Michigan; and

Whereas, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared health literacy as a foundational principle and overarching goal of Healthy People 2030. Their updated goals include eliminating health disparities, achieving improved health for all, attaining health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all, and stressing the responsibility of organizations to address health literacy; and

Whereas, Federal organizations are bound by The Plain Writing Act of 2010 to write “clear government communication that the public can understand and use”. Health organizations across Michigan are committed to promoting and supporting strong organizational health literacy; and

Whereas, Health literacy is necessary to achieve improved health by providing health information and that is understandable, accessible, and actionable to all. Addressing health literacy needs can improve the health status and quality of life for millions of Michiganders; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare October 2025 as Health Literacy Month in the state of Michigan.