Health Affairs July 22, 2024
J. Nwando Olayiwola, Ene Anteyi, Faith Obanua, Andy Rollins, Laura B. Baustien, Tamara Smith, Stephanie M. Franklin, Candy Magaña

Low or limited health literacy is a predictor of poorer health outcomes and health disparities. Patient populations in the United States who are at higher risk of low/limited health literacy are similar to those who are at high risk of experiencing health disparities around chronic diseases—older adults, racial/ethnic minorities, those who do not speak native English, low-income individuals, and those with limited education.

For health plans and care delivery organizations in particular, health literacy is critical because it is necessary for optimal health maintenance, prevention, health resource use, treatment and medication compliance, patient experience, and health-related decision making. Limited health literacy is considered a key contributor to total cost of care. It also contributes to US health care system inefficiency,...

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Topics: Digital Health, Employer, Equity/SDOH, Healthcare System, Insurance, Patient / Consumer, Payer, Provider, Technology
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