2016 -- S 2594 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE TOPIC OF

HEALTH LITERACY

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Miller, Goldin, Gallo, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     WHEREAS, Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to

obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate

health decisions; and

     WHEREAS, Health literacy affects people's ability to:

     • Navigate the health care system, including filling out complex forms and locating

providers and services;

     • Share personal information, such as health history, with providers; and

     • Engage in self-care and chronic-disease management; and

     WHEREAS, According to research studies, persons with limited health literacy skills are

more likely to skip important preventive measures and are more likely to have chronic conditions

and are less able to manage these conditions effectively; and

     WHEREAS, Persons with limited health literacy skills are also significantly more likely

to report their health as poor and will more often make greater use of services designed to treat

complications of disease as opposed to using services designed to prevent complications; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, persons with limited health literacy skills have demonstrated a

higher rate of hospitalization and use of emergency services, resulting in higher health care costs;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Rhode Island

Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of

the Senate; three (3) of whom shall be consumer advocates, to be appointed by the President of

the Senate; one of whom shall be a representative of higher education, to be appointed by the

President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and

Human Services, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Community

Action Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island

Department of Health, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Office

of the Health Insurance Commissioner, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the

Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs, or designee; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of

the Rhode Island Department of Education, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of

the Hospital Association of Rhode Island, or designee; and one of whom shall be the Executive

Director of Health Source Rhode Island, or designee.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader of the political party

which is entitled to the appointment, consents to the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study on the topic of

health literacy in order to develop a strategic plan that would maximize opportunities for

collaboration and programs that would assist Rhode Islanders' ability to navigate the health care

system and improve health outcomes.

     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

the call of the President of the Senate and organize and shall select a chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

Governor and the President of the Senate no later than February 1, 2017, and said commission

shall expire on July 1, 2017.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE TOPIC OF

HEALTH LITERACY

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     This resolution would create a fifteen (15) member special legislative study commission

whose purpose it would be to study the topic of health literacy, and who would report back to the

Governor and the President of the Senate no later than February 1, 2017, and whose life would

expire on July 1, 2017.

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