Our Blog

A major change is coming to healthcare websites. In 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) finalized a new web accessibility rule under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The goal is clear: make sure people with disabilities can access public health information and services online, just like everyone else.

This rule affects thousands of healthcare organizations, and the clock is ticking. Web accessibility is now a legal requirement, not a suggestion. Deadlines are already in place, and most clinics, hospitals, and public health departments need to take action soon to avoid falling behind.

If your website doesn’t meet the new standards, you could face lawsuits, public complaints, or even lose funding. These consequences are already showing up in other industries, and healthcare is not far behind.

At PatientX, we help healthcare organizations meet ADA web accessibility requirements with confidence. Our team provides expert audits, user-friendly web tools, and accessible content strategies tailored to healthcare. We cut through the confusion and deliver a clear path to compliance, so your team can focus on care while we handle the rest.

Who the New Rule Applies To (And When)

If your organization receives public funding, the new rule applies to you. That includes city or county health departments, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, nonprofit hospitals, and any provider that receives Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements.

The compliance deadlines depend on population size:

• Large jurisdictions (50,000+ people): Deadline is April 24, 2026
• Smaller jurisdictions: Deadline is April 26, 2027

What “ADA Compliant” Means in Plain Language

The new rule requires that websites and mobile apps meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It is a global standard developed by the W3C that outlines how to make digital content usable for people with disabilities.

In simple terms, that means your site should:

• Include alt text for all images
• Use proper contrast for readability
• Include captions or transcripts for video content
• Be navigable with a keyboard (not just a mouse)
• Avoid forms or interactive tools that screen readers cannot access
• And more

If your site has missing text labels, broken tabbing, outdated PDFs, or video content without captions, you are probably not compliant.

What Happens If You Do Nothing

It’s risky to ignore this rule. Falling out of compliance can lead to legal complaints, loss of community trust, and even funding issues for organizations that receive government support or reimbursement. Taking action now helps protect both your patients and your reputation.

Beyond legal risk, accessibility impacts real patients. If your site does not support screen readers, keyboard navigation, or clear communication, people may be unable to access care or important health information.

How to Get Compliant (Without Doing It Alone)

At PatientX, we make ADA compliance easier for healthcare teams. Our services include:

• Free compliance audits: Get a clear report on where your site currently stands
• accessWidget: An automated tool that handles many WCAG requirements, like contrast adjustments, screen reader optimization, and alt text enhancement
• Manual fixes and content updates: We can address complex compliance issues that automated tools miss, including forms, PDFs, and structural navigation
• Support from real people: Our team works directly with yours to build a plan that fits your timeline, tech stack, and patients’ needs

Why It’s Smart to Start Now

Many healthcare organizations still don’t realize this rule is in place. Others are waiting until the deadline gets closer or until a complaint forces action. Waiting only adds risk and makes compliance more costly down the road.

Getting started early gives you more time to plan, implement changes gradually, and improve your patient experience along the way.

ADA compliance is not a suggestion. And 2026 is closer than it seems.

Need Help? PatientX Is Ready.

Take the first step now: request your free ADA audit from PatientX. We will evaluate your site, explain what needs to change, and give you a direct plan to achieve compliance.

We help healthcare providers meet ADA standards in a way that is simple, practical, and aligned with your goals.

Visit https://patientxagency.com/ada-compliance/ now to request your free audit or to speak directly with our team about web accessibility solutions.