Maryland § 20-2204 - IN EFFECT

§ 20-2204. IN EFFECT

    IN EFFECT

    // EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2022 //

    (a)    The University of Maryland Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy is designated as the State’s Consumer Health Information Hub.

    (b)    The purpose of the Hub is to promote and ensure public access to accurate, consistent, evidence–based, plain–language information in preferred languages to inform decisions about health, safety, and social services benefits.

    (c)    The Hub shall:

        (1)    Protect and promote public health by engaging with State and local government agencies, health systems, nonprofit and community–based organizations, and other entities to carry out the Hub’s purpose and duties under this subtitle;

        (2)    Establish and promote health literacy criteria, certifications, and best practices that advance the effectiveness of the State’s health care system;

        (3)    Identify health literacy challenges and provide recommendations to agencies and organizations on how to address the challenges, including by improving programs and materials to provide the public with access to plain–language health, safety, and social services benefits information;

        (4)    Monitor and report on the use of health literacy and plain–language initiatives and support public reporting of vital public health information, including health care quality reports from the Maryland Health Care Commission; and

        (5)    Support the identification and ongoing training of health literacy officers in State and local agencies.

    (d)    For fiscal year 2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $350,000 to the Hub.

    (e)    On or before July 1 each year, beginning in 2024, the Hub shall submit a report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on the implementation of this subtitle, including the status of statewide health literacy efforts and materials provided.