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Only about
2 out of every 10
U.S. health organizations are actively working to improve health literacy.
This is like if only 2 out 10 restaurants listed food allergens or ingredients... they wouldn't be doing their part to keep their patrons safe.
Improving health literacy could prevent nearly
1 million hospital visits and save $25 billion
each year in the U.S.
It’s the healthcare equivalent of smoke alarms: clear communication and access to resources which can save lives and cut costs.
Low health literacy costs the U.S. economy up to
$236 billion each year
due to medical errors, illness and disability, lost wages, and weakened public health.
That’s like losing the equivalent of one Super Bowl–level stadium full of cash every single day.
Policy can improve health literacy—and unlock cost savings—by making health systems clearer, fairer, and more accessible for everyone.
Health Literacy Focused.
Policy Powered.
Advocacy Driven.
Every day, millions of Americans face confusing medical language, inaccessible resources, and policies that leave them behind. It’s not just frustrating—it’s dangerous.
We believe everyone deserves the power to make informed health decisions, which is why we created the US Health Literacy Association (USHLA) — a grassroots organization driven by health literacy experts, community leaders, and everyday people, not lobbyists, politicians, or people with competing special interests.
Let’s push the US Healthcare System to work with the American people — not around them.
Our Mission
Committed to improving health literacy
The US Health Literacy Association champions health literacy as a fundamental pillar of healthcare policy through active advocacy at federal, state, and local levels of government. Working closely with strategic partners, we drive policy changes that strengthen organizational health literacy initiatives.
We envision a future where equitable access to healthcare and informed health decisions are the norm, driven by policies and initiatives that prioritize health literacy at every level of government and society.
Health Literacy Focused
We champion clarity in health policy —so every patient has the tools to take control of their health and every provider has the tools to provide quality care.
Policy Powered
Real change requires bold policy. We push for laws that make health systems easier to navigate and more equitable.
Advocacy Driven
We don’t just support the cause—we drive it forward through action, partnership, and powerful storytelling.
Leading the movement
Meet the Board
Karen Komondor
President
Teresa Wagner
President-elect
Monique Hill
Secretary
Catina O’Leary
Treasurer
Silas Buchanan
Director
Greg O’Neill
Director
Chris Trudeau
Director
About health literacy
See how health literacy impacts America
9 out 10 U.S. adults have low health literacy and struggle to access, understand, and use health information. This means that most adults have trouble finding accurate, trustworthy health information, taking the right amount of medicine at the right time, managing a chronic condition, and making decisions about their treatment or care. Let's dig deeper to see other ways in which low health literacy America,
Raise your hands and voices
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Get in touch
Contact us
If you have a question or want to get in touch, please fill out our contact form: