PDF Accessibility for Healthcare Providers
Hospitals, health systems, and clinics publish thousands of patient-facing documents. Under the ADA and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, those documents must be accessible to patients with disabilities. PDFally makes compliance straightforward.
Healthcare's Accessibility Obligations
Healthcare providers are covered entities under multiple federal accessibility laws. The ADA Title III requires places of public accommodation—including hospitals and clinics—to provide equal access to services and communications.
Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination in health programs receiving federal financial assistance. OCR at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enforces these requirements and has issued guidance requiring that digital communications, including PDFs, be accessible.
For patients who are blind, have low vision, or rely on screen readers, an inaccessible intake form, discharge instruction, or benefits document is a direct barrier to care—and a clear compliance violation.
Applicable Regulations
- ADA Title III – Places of public accommodation
- ADA Title II – State and local government health programs
- Section 504 – Organizations receiving federal funds
- Section 1557 ACA – Non-discrimination in health programs
- WCAG 2.1 Level AA – The technical accessibility standard
HHS Enforcement Is Active
OCR at HHS actively investigates complaints about inaccessible digital content from healthcare providers. Resolutions routinely include requirements to audit and remediate hundreds or thousands of documents.
Patient Documents We Remediate
Every patient touchpoint that exists as a PDF is a compliance obligation.
Patient-Facing Forms
- Intake and registration forms
- Informed consent documents
- Insurance authorization forms
- Patient rights notices
- HIPAA privacy notices
Clinical Communications
- Discharge instructions
- Medication guides
- Care plan documents
- Lab result explanations
- Post-procedure instructions
Institutional Documents
- Benefits and coverage PDFs
- Accessibility policies
- Annual reports
- Staff-facing clinical protocols
- Provider directories
Built for Healthcare Compliance Teams
Compliance Documentation
Each remediated PDF includes a report you can keep as evidence of your accessibility efforts for audits and investigations.
Fast for Urgent Requests
When a patient with a disability requests an accessible version of a document, PDFally can turn it around in 1–2 business days.
Batch Remediation for Backlogs
Submit dozens of documents at once to tackle your existing accessibility backlog efficiently.
WCAG 2.1 Level AA Compliant Output
The standard cited by HHS and enforced against covered healthcare entities.
No Software to Install
Your compliance or operations team uploads directly through the web—no IT project needed.
Transparent, Predictable Cost
Per-page pricing makes budgeting straightforward, whether you're remediating five forms or 500.
Accessible Patient Documents Start Here
Upload any patient-facing PDF for a free accessibility scan.
Start Free Scan