Congress Pushes for "Plain Language" in Legal and Medical Documents - AARP Bu... Medicare Resource Center

A Push for Simple Language

Before Toni Cordell, 66, had two moles removed this year, she diligently read every form that the nurse gave her. Even so, Cordell felt confused. With all the officialese tossed around in everything from the HIPAA form to the consent form for the procedure, Cordell certainly wasn’t feeling at ease. "These legal papers, especially the HIPAA letters, in medical offices are designed for some legal need, not the need of the patient,” says Cordell, of Charlotte, N.C. Cordell is not the only one confused by wordy documents. The issue has reached Congress, where a bill passed by the House and awaiting a Senate vote would require government agencies to use so-called “plain language.” The idea is to simplify documents by using conversational language to get to the point quickly and without jargon. If all government agencies are forced to implement plain language, the results could be huge, says Annetta Cheek, chairwoman of the Center for Plain Language. “The government would save time and money, and people would save time and money.” Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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