Creating an inclusive digital experience is no longer optional, especially for healthcare organizations. More than 70 million adults in the United States live with disabilities that can make it difficult to navigate websites, access patient portals or engage with digital content.

In an important move toward digital equality, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced new accessibility requirements for healthcare organizations. All organizations with 15 or more employees must ensure their websites and digital communications meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards by May 2026. Organizations with fewer than 15 employees have until May 2027 to comply.

At Full Media, we are actively helping healthcare providers prepare early, so they can work towards these standards on time and deliver a more accessible, inclusive experience for all patients.

What Is WCAG 2.1 AA and Why Does It Matter?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized standards that help make websites usable for individuals with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, cognitive and motor impairments.

Achieving WCAG 2.1 AA compliance means that your website will:

  • Provide alternative text for images to support screen readers
  • Use strong color contrast to ensure text is readable
  • Enable full navigation by keyboard without requiring a mouse
  • Organize content in a way that supports users with cognitive disabilities
  • Display content that adapts well to assistive technologies and mobile devices

For healthcare organizations, aligning with WCAG is about more than compliance. It is about ensuring that every patient can schedule appointments, access important health information and communicate with providers without encountering barriers.

New HHS Digital Accessibility Standards

The new HHS ruling requires all healthcare organizations with 15 or more employees to meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards across their digital presence by May 2026. This includes compliance for:

  • Public-facing websites
  • Patient portals
  • Mobile applications
  • Digital communications like emails and online forms
  • Social media content

Although the deadline may seem distant, making accessibility updates often requires significant planning, collaboration and development. Taking steps now will allow your organization to prepare thoughtfully and avoid last-minute challenges.

Why Digital Accessibility Matters for Healthcare Organizations

Patient Access

Healthcare organizations are entrusted with some of the most important interactions people have in their lives. An inaccessible website or patient portal can prevent patients with disabilities from scheduling appointments, accessing test results or finding crucial health information.

Ensuring your digital platforms are accessible isn’t just about compliance, it’s about serving your entire community.

Legal Protection

Compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards will soon be legally required for healthcare organizations under HHS rules. Failure to meet these standards could lead to costly lawsuits, loss of government funding and reputational damage.

By prioritizing accessibility now, you can protect your organization and demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

An added bonus? Many WCAG guidelines overlap with SEO best practices. Features like well-structured headings, alternative text and clear navigation don’t just help users—they help search engines better understand your site, boosting your visibility online.

What Healthcare Organizations Should Do Now

  • Start Early: While 2026 may sound far off, achieving full accessibility compliance can take time, especially if major updates or a full website rebuild are needed. Beginning your evaluation and planning process now ensures you’ll be ready ahead of the deadline.
  • Audit Your Current Digital Assets: Conduct a full audit of your websites, patient portals, apps, emails and social media content to identify accessibility gaps. A professional digital accessibility audit, like those we provide at Full Media, will highlight specific areas that need improvement.
  • Prioritize Key Updates: Focus first on high-traffic pages and critical user journeys, like appointment scheduling, test result portals and contact forms. Ensuring these essential functions are accessible can make an immediate difference for users with disabilities.
  • Build Accessibility into Future Projects: Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be part of every website build, update and digital marketing campaign going forward. Choosing vendors and partners who prioritize WCAG compliance will set you up for long-term success.

How Full Media Can Help

As a Healthcare Digital Agency with over 15 years of experience, Full Media specializes in helping healthcare organizations create digital experiences that are inclusive, user-friendly and work towards WCAG 2.1 AA standards.

Our team offers:

Digital accessibility isn’t just about compliance, it’s about building a better, more inclusive future for healthcare. Ready to get started? Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization meet the May 2026 deadline and better serve your patients.