Health Net Works to Improve Health Literacy and Health Outcomes
October 02 2014 - 5:00PM
Business Wire
October is Health Literacy Month
With nearly half the U.S. adult population lacking health
literacy skills needed to understand and act on health information
and health system demands, Health Net, Inc. is taking steps to
support the goal of Health Literacy Month and promote the
importance of providing consumers with health information that’s
clear, simple and easy to understand.
“Studies have shown that there’s a link between low health
literacy and poor health outcomes,” said Patricia Buss, M.D.,
medical and health care services operations officer for Health Net.
“At Health Net, one of our top priorities is helping our members
maximize their health. That’s why we created our Clear & Simple
program.”
Launched in 2010, the Clear & Simple program provides Health
Net employees with an understanding of health literacy and its
impact on health care, and teaches them how to communicate with
members more effectively using plain language.
As part of its support for Health Literacy Month, Health Net’s
Cultural & Linguistics Services department is holding “plain
language” training sessions for Health Net employees throughout
October.
“This is the time of year when many consumers will be making
choices about their health coverage,” said Buss. “Health Net
recognizes that these are important decisions, so we’re focused on
making our information and enrollment materials easy to navigate
and comprehend.”
The Clear & Simple program seems to be making an impression
on Health Net members. Recently, Tucson, Ariz., resident Janet
Schaefer wrote about her health-insurance-shopping experience in a
letter to the editor of the Arizona Daily Star. She described her
pleasure with the materials she received from Health Net: “Health
Net guided me through this every step of the way with materials
that are clear, concise and helpful.”
“With validation like that, we believe our communications are
striking the right clear-and-simple chord,” said Buss.
What is Health Literacy?
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) defines health
literacy as the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic
health information and services to make appropriate health
decisions.
The Need for Higher Health Literacy
As part of its National Assessment of Adult Literacy, the
National Center for Education Statistics conducted its first-ever
survey to measure health literacy. The following findings, from
that study and a publication from the ODPHP, point to a need to
improve health literacy among American adults:
- Nearly one third of American adults
likely have difficulty with common health tasks, such as following
directions on a prescription drug label or adhering to a childhood
immunization schedule using a standard chart;
- Limited health literacy affects adults
across racial and ethnic groups. The proportion of adults with
basic or below basic health literacy ranged from 28 percent of
white adults to 65 percent of Hispanic adults; three quarters of
the adults without a high school diploma had below basic level
health-literacy skills or basic level health-literacy skills;
and
- Both publicly insured and uninsured
adults had lower health literacy skills compared to privately
insured adults; and more than two-thirds of adults over the age of
75 had below basic level health literacy skills or basic level
health literacy skills.
The relationship between health literacy and health outcomes
similarly highlights the need to improve health literacy. The ODPHP
summarized key research study findings that focused on this
relationship:
- People with limited health literacy
skills are more likely than those with adequate health literacy to
have chronic conditions and are less able to manage them
effectively;
- Those with limited health literacy
skills are more likely than those with adequate health literacy to
forgo preventive measures such as mammograms, Pap smears, and flu
shots; and
- Limited health literacy skills are
associated with an increase in preventable hospital visits and
admissions.
“Increasing health literacy should be a shared goal throughout
our industry – and throughout the year – not just during Health
Literacy Month,” said Buss.
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Medical Advice Disclaimer
The information provided is not intended as medical advice or as
a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice
of your physician or other health provider for any questions you
may have regarding your medical condition and follow your health
care provider’s instructions.
About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT) is a publicly traded managed care
organization that delivers managed health care services through
health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its
mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable.
Health Net provides and administers health benefits to
approximately 5.8 million individuals across the country
through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare
prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”),
Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and
Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net also offers behavioral
health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs, managed
health care products related to prescription drugs, managed health
care product coordination for multi-region employers, and
administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits
programs.
For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health
Net’s website at www.healthnet.com.
This release contains references and links to other websites
that may contain content that is not owned or controlled by Health
Net. Please be aware that references or links to other websites are
provided for the user’s convenience and that Health Net is not
responsible for any such content that is not owned or controlled by
Health Net. Health Net does not express an opinion on any such
content and disclaims any liability in connection therewith.
Health Net, Inc.Lori Rieger,
602-794-1415lori.rieger@healthnet.comwww.twitter.com/hnlori
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