Legal
HHS Section 504 Rule Mandates Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment for Medicaid-Funded Providers
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a final rule in May 2024 revising Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is now in effect. The rule requires healthcare systems receiving federal financial assistance, including Medicaid funding, to ensure medical diagnostic equipment is accessible to patients with disabilities. All entities that accept Medicaid payments are subject to these nondiscrimination requirements. The regulation imposes new compliance obligations on providers and health systems that contract with Medicaid managed care organizations.
Why it mattersMedicaid MCOs must ensure their provider networks comply with new accessible equipment requirements, which may affect contract standards, provider credentialing, quality oversight, and network adequacy assessments.