Health Literacy Action Plan aims to improve health literacy across the nation

The Center for Disease Control estimates that 9 out of 10 adults have trouble following medical advice because of the jargon-filled language, dense writing, and complex explanations. 

The Wall Street Journal reports that federal and state officials are encouraging health professionals, clinicians and insurers to simplify the language they use to communicate with the public in patient handouts, medical forms and health websites.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released Health Literacy Action Plan, which aims to improve the health literacy across the nation in order to help people follow medical advice.

(Sources: Department of Health and Human Services, http://www.hhs.gov, May, 2010; The Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com, July 6, 2010)