Low Health Literacy Costs Iowans More than $2 Billion Each Year
Recent report details high economic cost of low health literacy
The first estimates are in: low health literacy costs Iowans between $2 billion to $4 billion each year.
An analysis recently commissioned by Health Literacy Iowa found that low health literacy costs the Iowa economy $1.9 billion to $4.2 billion annually. If unchanged, this translates into a present value cost over 10 years of $15 billion to $34 billion due to premature mortality; avoidable morbidity; racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities; and avoidable costs. Iowa is one of the only states to have conducted a study like this.
Health literacy is the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services. The Institute of Medicine estimates that nearly half of all American adults - 90 million people - have difficulty understanding and using health information. Low health literacy affects a patient's entire health care experience and contributes to poor health outcomes.
"Low health literacy impacts everyone in the community," said Mary Ann Abrams, M.D., M.P.H., Health Literacy Medical Advisor for Health Literacy Iowa and Iowa Health System. "Patients may have medication errors or miss important steps in taking care of their health if they don't understand health care information. We must work to together to protect Iowans and make health information understandable to everyone."
The economic health policy brief outlines how low health literacy is a major source of economic inefficiency in the state of Iowa. Fortunately, several organizations joined together in 2010 to collaboratively address this issue.
"We're extremely fortunately to have health professionals and systems, educators, payers, government agencies, and patients working together to create Health Literacy Iowa for our communities," said Abrams. "This unique resource teaches health care providers how to communicate more effectively, and helps patients and families to find and ask for clear information. Health Literacy Iowa is leading Iowa's response to the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy."
About Health Literacy Iowa:
Health Literacy Iowa's mission is to promote and facilitate the ability of all Iowans to use effective communication to optimize their health.
The initiative was launched by Iowa Health System in partnership with a multi-disciplinary steering work group with representatives from Child Health Specialty Clinics, Des Moines University, DeskActive, Iowa Department of Education, Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Healthcare Collaborative, Iowa Hospital Association, Iowa Medical Society, Iowa Nurses Association, Iowa Pharmacy Association, Iowa Primary Care Association, Mercy Clinics Inc., the New Readers of Iowa, Principal Financial Group, University of Iowa Geriatric Education Center and the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development, the University of Northern Iowa Center on Health Disparities, and the Wellmark Foundation.