Why Medicare’s New Physical Activity Assessment Matters for Movement Professionals

Dec 9 / Support Team

Medicare Recognizes Physical Activity Assessment — What This Means for Our Movement Community

A subtle but meaningful shift has occurred in the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Although it does not appear in the public-facing fact sheet, the final rule includes a redefinition of HCPCS code G0136, now designated as a standardized, evidence-based assessment of physical activity and nutrition (5–15 minutes, once every six months).

The reimbursement is modest, but the conceptual movement is important: Medicare is acknowledging physical activity assessment as part of clinical care.

For a community built on understanding movement as a teachable skill—a foundation for health, performance, and longevity—this shift reinforces the direction we have been moving in for decades.

Movement Is Entering the Clinical Conversation

Physicians and podiatrists already possess well-developed assessment methods, and the updated G0136 code does not alter those frameworks. What it does signal is that healthcare is beginning to treat movement not as an afterthought but as a measurable component of prevention and chronic disease management.

Once movement becomes a clinical topic, it naturally raises a deeper question than simply how many minutes someone is active: it brings attention to how a person moves and whether they can do so safely and effectively.

This is where a structured, standardized approach to movement becomes valuable. Physical activity recommendations create direction, but technique gives patients the ability to act on those recommendations with confidence and reduced risk.

Technique Education Enhances Clinical Practice

Clinical care and technique education operate in different domains but work toward the same outcome: better, safer movement. Clinical evaluation identifies impairments, risks, and medical priorities. Technique education provides the movement structure—alignment, balance, timing, and gravity use—that helps patients apply those priorities in daily life.

A standardized technical framework offers repeatable drills that reinforce neuromuscular control, a progression patients can practice independently, movement patterns that reduce unnecessary loading, and a shared language clinicians can incorporate without altering their workflow. Technique instruction becomes the bridge between clinical insight and everyday movement behavior, helping patients implement what they have been medically cleared or advised to do.

Preventing the Cycle: Running Boom → Injury Epidemic

History shows what happens when physical activity becomes a public-health priority: people enthusiastically start running or exercising without guidance, only to encounter preventable injuries. The renewed attention to movement in Medicare’s structure may increase the number of individuals attempting to become more active. Without support, the familiar pattern is likely to repeat.

This is precisely where our community plays an essential role. Those trained in technique-based movement education can help ensure that increased activity does not lead to unnecessary setbacks. You offer clarity, safety, and structure at the moment when individuals need it most: when they begin.

Foundational Drills as a Gateway to Movement Health

While running technique has its own value, it is the foundational drills and exercises used to teach technique that have broad relevance across ages and abilities. These drills—based on the Pose Method where full-body alignment on support, balance, timing are coordinated in interaction with gravity—provide universal movement benefits.

They improve stability, coordination, and confidence. They enhance neuromuscular control and support healthy mechanics. They are simple, adaptable, and appropriate for older adults, beginners, and individuals returning to activity. Many of our specialists already apply them successfully in these contexts, demonstrating how technique training becomes a vehicle for general movement improvement.

These fundamental elements meet people where they are and help them progress safely, whether they are preparing to run, walking more confidently, or rebuilding basic motor skills.

Why This Shift Matters for Our Community

Although the updated G0136 code does not immediately change what PTs, ATs, or coaches can bill, it reinforces the broader trajectory: healthcare is moving toward prevention, lifestyle integration, and recognition of movement as a meaningful clinical factor. This increases the relevance of standardized movement education and the practitioners trained to deliver it.

This is a moment for our specialists to stay connected, continue refining their skills, and contribute to a community that is helping shape the future of movement in prevention and rehabilitation. As healthcare systems show more interest in physical activity, the need for well-trained, technique-focused movement professionals only grows.

Your work is aligned with where healthcare is headed, and this policy change—quiet though it may be—is another confirmation of that direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What changed in the 2026 Medicare PFS regarding physical activity?

HCPCS code G0136 was redefined as an evidence-based physical activity and nutrition assessment (5–15 minutes, once every six months).

Where is this found if not in the fact sheet?

In the CY2026 PFS Addendum B (HCPCS table) and CMS code update files. It is not mentioned in the main fact sheet.

Does this new code apply to PTs, ATs, or coaches?

No. It applies to physicians and certain clinical providers, but it increases attention on movement as a health factor.

Is technique instruction a medical service?

No. It is a skill-based educational system that complements clinical care by helping patients move more effectively.

Can foundational running-technique drills help older adults?

Yes. The drills that teach alignment, balance, and timing are universally useful for improving stability, coordination, and confidence.

Could increased emphasis on physical activity trigger another running boom and the injury epidemic that often follows?

Yes. When large numbers of people begin running without technique instruction or foundational movement skill, injury rates rise quickly—as seen during previous running booms. Technique specialists help prevent this cycle by teaching the movement skills that make running safe and sustainable.

Why should movement professionals care about this change?

It reflects a broader shift toward prevention and highlights the importance of standardized movement education in supporting clinical goals.
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