The Latest News on Digital Accessibility for Healthcare Practices

If your practice serves Medicare or Medicaid patients—and many do—there’s an important update you’ll want on your radar. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has finalized new digital accessibility requirements under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and while the deadlines are still ahead, now is the time to prepare.

Practices with 15 or more employees must comply by May 11, 2026, while smaller practices have until May 10, 2027. That may feel far off, but accessibility updates often take more time than expected.

Your digital platforms will need to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards. In everyday language, that means making sure your website and online tools are easy to use for everyone, including people with vision, hearing, mobility, or cognitive disabilities. Features like screen-reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, clear headings, readable color contrast, and text descriptions for images all play a role.

The good news? Accessibility improvements don’t just help with compliance—they also make your site more user-friendly, improve patient experience, and can even support better SEO. A more accessible website is simply a better website for all your patients.

Over 5,100 digital accessibility lawsuits were filed in 2025 alone — a 37% surge from the prior year. Healthcare is an increasingly targeted sector, and non-compliance can mean settlements of $25,000–$100,000+, plus mandatory remediation costs.

Beyond litigation risk, non-compliance under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act puts Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements at risk. For most practices, that's not a setback they can absorb.

ADA compliance isn't a one-time checkbox — it requires ongoing audits, manual testing, code remediation, and keeping pace with evolving regulations. That's a task that shouldn't fall on you or your staff members. Partnering with a knowledgeable digital marketing company like DoctorsInternet that prioritizes accessibility means your website is continuously monitored, updated, and protected.

Remember, the right partner doesn't just build you a pretty site — they make sure it works for every patient, keeps you legally covered, and adapts as requirements change. That's a partnership worth investing in.