Center for Health Literacy

Empowering health consumers by making important information understandable

Center for Health Literacy

Health literacy is the ability to use spoken and written language to understand and act on health information. Enabling health literacy is essential, because difficult-to-read materials can result in:

Higher administrative costs
Inappropriate and expensive use of services
Poor health outcomes

The MAXIMUS Center for Health Literacy develops easy-to-read print materials and easy-to-use Web sites so that governments and public health services organizations can communicate effectively with their consumers. The benefits of working with the Center for Health Literacy include:

Informed consumers capable of making meaningful choices
Improved health outcomes
Reduced administrative and health care costs
Streamlined processes

Writing, Design, and Web Design

Almost half of the American public, including many Medicaid clients, have difficulty comprehending and using information developed above the eighth-grade reading level. However, most health-related materials are written at a tenth-grade level or even higher. The Center for Health Literacy writes in plain language, using common words that most readers can understand. We use clear and consistent designs that promote readability. More...