Guidelines for Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in the U.S.: Results from the National Academies of Science's Committee to Develop a Framework and Guidance for HIA

Health impact assessment (HIA) has shown promise as a means to factor health into a wide range of decisions that do not normally focus on health, such as transportation and land use planning, permitting of natural resource development and energy production projects (such as power plants and mines), housing projects and policies, and a range of social policies and programs (such as living wage and paid sick days legislation, energy assistance, and rental voucher programs). The use of health impact assessment (HIA) is increasing in the United States. Tracking by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Impact Project have identified over 130 HIAs have been completed or are in progress. Development of this field, however, has been limited by the lack of generally accepted definitions and practice standards. To address this problem, the National Academies of Sciences convened a committee to develop a framework, terminology, and guidance for conducting HIA at federal, state, tribal, and local levels, including the private sector. This presentation will outline the committee's findings, including a proposed definition, critical elements of an HIA, how to select appropriate applications, methodological questions, and challenges and impediments to more widespread use of HIA.