ACA Facts: Accessible Diagnostic Equipment Standards

February 13, 2013

Accessible Diagnostic Equipment Standards

Pursuant to a mandate in the Affordable Care Act, the Access Board, the independent federal agency overseeing accessibility issues, collaborated with the Food and Drug Administration to create proposed standards for accessible medical equipment. These standards address access for people with disabilities to examination tables and scales (including provisions on transfer devices such as supports rails and lifts), as well as other equipment used for purposes of medical diagnosis. Initial public hearings were held prior to the rulemaking in July 2010 that included various disability rights organizations and advocacy groups. Currently, comment submissions are being accepted with a deadline of June 8, after which final standards will be prepared for release.