Another Milestone for It's Time to Move

[Washington, DC] – We are excited to announce that the Physical Activity Implementation Guide (IG) is published. The IG standardizes the ability of computer systems or software to exchange information involved in measuring, reporting, and intervening to improve patient physical activity levels.

What This Means

Publication signifies that the IG is ready to start being incorporated and used in stakeholder systems. These include, but are not limited to, healthcare systems, Electronic Health Record systems (EHR), physical activity professionals/organizations (including community-based organizations), and physical activity-oriented app developers. These early implementations will provide real-world testing of the IG and feedback for continued improvement and development.

More Context

The publication of the IG puts our work on the path to becoming a normative standard. It also represents the point at which we begin to bring physical activity assessment, prescription, and referral to the US healthcare system. The feedback from the early implementers will help the project group to refine the IG and ensure it is able to work for wide implementation throughout all stakeholder groups. This is version 1, or STU1, of the IG. Once we feel there has been enough testing and changes to the IG, we will submit for ballot approval and publication for version 2 (STU2). This may take about a year to accomplish, and we will repeat the process until the IG meets HL7® criteria for a normative standard.

The Work Ahead

Work has already begun towards updating and refining the STU1 publication. We are addressing new digital quality and performance measures that will incentivize payers, health systems, and clinicians to assess, prescribe, and refer for physical activity and coordinate with NCQA in their effort to bring digital measures into the HL7® space. Once we begin seeing uptake and use of the STU1 publication by stakeholders, the project group will guide these systems to help with implementation and elicit feedback once in place. We have also convened a Cornerstone Group that will be working toward strategies for stakeholders to begin implementing the guide. PAA is also engaging a consultant to develop a market access roadmap for engaging payers to improve reimbursement for physical activity assessment and referrals. Much more to come in the year ahead!