What is HHS Section 504?
HHS Section 504 is a regulation from the US Department of Health and Human Services, based on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funding.
⚠️ Important: HHS Section 504 applies to all healthcare organisations that receive federal funding. While this is a US law, the principles are recognised globally and align with the UK Equality Act 2010 and EAA requirements.
Who Does HHS Section 504 Apply To?
HHS Section 504 applies to all healthcare organisations that receive federal funding:
- 🏥 Hospitals and health centres
- 🏥 Medical practices and clinics
- 🏥 Dental practices
- 🏥 Mental health and addiction services
- 🏥 Nursing homes and long-term care
- 🏥 Home healthcare providers
- 🏥 Medicare and Medicaid providers
HHS Requirements — What Your Website Needs
HHS Section 504 requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Healthcare websites must be accessible to all users:
- Patient Portals: Patients must be able to access their health records
- Appointment Systems: Booking appointments must be accessible
- Health Information: Medical information must be readable
- Medication Instructions: Medication instructions must be clear and accessible
- Patient Forms: Forms must be accessible (tags, reading order)
📋 Healthcare Accessibility Checklist
- ☐ Patient portals are accessible
- ☐ Appointment systems work with keyboard
- ☐ Health information is readable with screen readers
- ☐ Medication instructions are accessible
- ☐ Forms are tagged and accessible
- ☐ Videos have captions
- ☐ PDF documents are accessible
Penalties for HHS Non-Compliance
Violating HHS Section 504 can lead to serious consequences:
- Loss of federal funding: Medicare and Medicaid funding can be cut
- Lawsuits: Patients can file lawsuits
- Fines: Administrative penalties are possible
- Reputation damage: Accessibility issues harm trust
- Patient safety: Accessible websites improve patient safety
How Does the Free HHS Checker Work?
Our tool runs an automated WCAG 2.1 Level AA scan and identifies accessibility issues. You'll receive a clear report with:
- ✅ Accessibility score (0-100%)
- ✅ Violations and WCAG criteria
- ✅ Warnings for potential issues
- ✅ Fix recommendations with code examples
- ✅ Downloadable PDF report
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does HHS Section 504 apply to UK healthcare providers?
Not directly. HHS Section 504 is US law. However, the UK Equality Act 2010 and EAA set similar requirements for UK healthcare websites.
2. What is the HHS deadline?
HHS Section 504 has been in effect since 1973. In 2026, the HHS Section 504 website deadline is in May 2026.
3. Is HHS Section 504 the same as WCAG?
No. HHS Section 504 is a law, WCAG is a technical standard. HHS Section 504 requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
4. Can I use a free HHS checker?
Yes. AccessiTool's free HHS checker tests your website against WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
5. What's the difference between HHS Section 504 and ADA Title III?
ADA Title III applies to all public businesses. HHS Section 504 specifically applies to healthcare organisations that receive federal funding.
🚀 Test Your Healthcare Website
Free HHS checker. WCAG 2.1 Level AA. No signup.
Start Free Test →
No signup. 10 seconds. WCAG 2.1 Level AA.