Stay Ahead of the HHS Section 504 Accessibility Deadline
Stamats helps healthcare organizations comply with federal accessibility requirements by May 2026.
Don’t risk funding loss or legal action. Partner with experts who understand both healthcare and digital accessibility.
Common Accessibility Challenges in Healthcare
- Low Color Contrast
Insufficient contrast between text and background makes calls-to-action and button labels difficult to read, especially for users with low vision or color blindness.
- Missing Alt Text
Images and infographics without alt text become invisible to screen reader users, limiting access to critical content and guidance.
- Inaccessible Forms
Online forms without proper labels or error messaging prevent patients from scheduling appointments, completing intake, or paying bills independently.
- Non-Compliant PDFs
Scanned or untagged PDFs, such as discharge instructions or consent forms, are unreadable by assistive technologies and violate WCAG and Section 504 standards.
Our 5-Phase Section 504 Compliance Framework
Discovery and Ownership Mapping
We start by identifying all digital stakeholders and mapping responsibilities. This includes building RACI charts to clarify who owns what—ensuring accountability across web, app, content, and vendor teams.
Manual and Assistive Technology Testing
Our experts manually test representative pages using leading screen readers like NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. We conduct tab-through and keyboard-only tests to detect issues automated tools can’t catch.
Automated Testing and Tool Validation
We use tools such as the WAVE Accessibility Checker to flag violations tied to WCAG 2.2 AA—like heading structure, link labeling, and color contrast. Every flagged issue is reviewed and confirmed by a human expert before it’s included in our report.
Detailed Reporting and Prioritization
Audit results are delivered in a clear, actionable dashboard. Each issue includes a description, WCAG citation, page URL, issue type (content or development), responsible team, and estimated level of effort. We prioritize all issues from 1 (critical) to 3 (low impact) so your team knows exactly where to focus.
Strategic Debrief
We walk your team through the findings in a collaborative review session. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what’s needed to reach compliance, along with a timeline, next steps, and stakeholder alignment.
Why Section 504 Compliance Matters Now
- May 2024: HHS Finalizes Rules
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established WCAG 2.1 AA as the required standard for all federally funded healthcare organizations. - Compliance Period: 2024-2026
Organizations have a limited window to audit, remediate, and implement governance procedures before enforcement begins. - May 11, 2026: Enforcement Deadline
Organizations with 15+ employees must be fully compliant or face OCR investigations, Medicare/Medicaid funding loss, and potential lawsuits. - Beyond the Deadline: Ongoing Compliance
Maintaining accessibility requires continuous monitoring as content changes and new digital properties are launched.
Our Comprehensive Compliance Services
Digital Auditing
Complete assessment of websites, mobile apps, patient portals WCAG 2.1 AA standards with detailed reporting.
Remediation
Expert fixing of accessibility gaps through code changes, UX improvements, and content updates to achieve full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
Vendor Review
Evaluation of third-party systems and VPATs to identify and mitigate accessibility risks from integrated technologies.
Team Training
Role-specific accessibility education for content creators, designers, and developers to maintain compliance independently.
Start Your Compliance Journey Today
Until the HHS May 2026 enforcement date
Employee threshold to comply
WCAG 2.1 AA compliance will be standard
Success Story: Houston Methodist Hospital
By the end of the engagement, Houston Methodist had a clear, prioritized roadmap to reduce complexity, increase operational efficiency, and proactively meet Section 504 requirements. Accessibility and usability were embedded in every decision.
This project resulted in four key outcomes to enhance their accessibility initiative:
- Detailed development team sprint plan
- Accessibility training workplan
- Positioning to meet overall compliance deadline
- Clear communication for leadership on the roadmap
This work positioned Houston Methodist for digital excellence. By treating accessibility as a strategic imperative, not just a legal requirement, the organization demonstrated its commitment to patient-centered innovation.
Avoid Last-Minute Scrambles and Legal Risk
Book your strategy session with Stamats now or email us at [email protected] to begin your Section 504 compliance journey.