HHS has issued an Interim Final Rule delaying the deadlines by one year for healthcare organizations to ensure their websites and mobile apps comply with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
The new deadline is May 11, 2027, for organizations with 15 or more full-time employees and May 11, 2028, for those with fewer than 15 FTE. Important requirements remain in place, including the July 8, 2026, deadline for at least 10% of exam tables and weight scales to meet accessibility standards and the requirement that newly purchased Medical Diagnostic Equipment (such as X-ray or mammography machines) be accessible until at least 10% of each MDE type is compliant. HHS may consider future changes to the 2024 rule through additional rulemaking, but no revisions are guaranteed. The Accessibility Rules – WCAG, MDE, & Kiosks toolkit has been updated to reflect this change