On Thursday, July 20, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology published the United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 4 (USCDI v4). The Physical Activity Alliance (PAA) is pleased to announce that its proposed Physical Activity Data Elements have been included as Core Measures in USCDI v4, alongside other new data elements that focus on improving equity across the health care ecosystem. 

The addition of PAA’s proposed Physical Activity Data Elements to the USCDI v4 means that electronic health record platforms in the United States (i.e., the software platforms used to collect and share patient information) will be required to include the Physical Activity Data Element that captures the following patient data: “Evaluation of a patient’s current or usual exercise.” 

With the achievement of this major milestone, PAA is now focusing on work that will incentivize health care providers, health plans, and health systems to integrate physical activity assessment, prescription, and referral into health care delivery and address reimbursement/payment for these services.