Low health literacy has emerged as one of the most pressing public health issues of our time.
It is a major driver of high health care costs, poor health outcomes, and persistent health disparities. It impacts nearly one out of two adult Americans, and almost everyone has suffered from it at one point.
Those who work in the media, government and health policy are uniquely positioned to address and improve the health literacy of the nearly nine out of ten Americans who struggle to understand health and medical information and services.
For the members of the media, health literacy is a part of every story from the national obesity epidemic to the debate about health care. For government and policy makers trying to reign in costs, improve health, and realize many of the changes brought about by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, helping Americans understand how to find, understand and use health information and services will be key.
Say Ah! can provide information, experts, and context for stories, testimony, or new legislation concerning health literacy. For more information, contact us at info@say-ah.org.