Accessibility of Medical Equipment to Individuals with Disabilities

Ensuring equitable access to healthcare for individuals with disabilities is a growing national priority. Although federal laws such as the ADA and Section 504 provide nondiscrimination protection, many states are adopting detailed requirements specifying how facilities must support patients with disabilities. Connecticut’s recent updates to Section 19a-490dd offer a model for how accessibility standards are evolving nationally.

National Context: Why Accessibility Matters Across All States

Patients with disabilities commonly face barriers such as inaccessible exam tables, non-adjustable chairs, limited maneuvering space, and a lack of trained staff. These barriers can delay diagnoses and worsen outcomes. Federal agencies, accreditation bodies, and state legislatures are increasingly focusing on diagnostic accessibility. 

As of January 2025, changes to Section 19a-490dd of the Connecticut General Statutes by Public Act 24-113, section 1 stated:

• Train all staff with direct patient care responsibilities regarding its policies and procedures for addressing patients' access to care. 
• Designate a contact phone number and provide the steps patients may take to contact the health care facility or practice location for assistance with patient access needs and post such information on its Internet web site or otherwise make such information readily available to the public. 
• (A) Take and document an inventory of all medical diagnostic equipment that meets the standards for accessibility and all medical diagnostic equipment that does not meet such standards, including, but not limited to, an action plan for addressing gaps in such inventory, and make such documentation available to the Department of Public Health upon request, and (B) identify and document the steps necessary to comply with the requirements set forth in subsection (e) of this section and make such documentation available to the Department of Public Health upon request.

(e) On and after January 1, 2026, until such time as federal regulations regarding the requirements for accessibility of medical diagnostic equipment applicable to health care facilities and practice locations adopted pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended from time to time, become mandatory and except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, each health care facility with three or more examination rooms and each practice location with three or more examination rooms shall (1) when purchasing, leasing, replacing or otherwise obtaining medical diagnostic equipment, independently verify or obtain assurances from the seller or source of such equipment that the equipment complies with the standards for accessibility and maintain documentation of such verification or assurances, (2) have available an examination table or examination chair that meets the standards for accessibility in at least one examination room that is capable of allowing a patient using an assistive device, including, but not limited to, a wheelchair, to easily enter, exit and maneuver in such examination room, and (3) have available at least one weight scale that meets the standards for accessibility, provided the health care facility or practice location uses a weight scale.

Conclusion: 

Connecticut’s updated requirements highlight a national shift toward improving accessibility in healthcare. By strengthening training, updating equipment, and documenting accessibility efforts, physicians across all states can improve patient care and prepare for future regulatory changes.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided resources for reference and assistance in meeting the criteria:

Modernizing Health Care to Improve Physical Accessibility: A Primer for Providers

Resources to Address Access to Health Care for People with Disabilities | Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service

You can also reference Section 19a-490dd by clicking the link below:

Chapter 368v - Health Care Institutions

Additional Resources:

Access to Medical Care for Individuals with Mobility Disabilities | ADA.gov

Improving Access to Care for People with Disabilities | CMS

Resources for Facilitating Inclusion and Overcoming Barriers | Disability Inclusion | CDC