HHS Extends Section 504 WCAG 2.1 AA Web/Mobile Accessibility Deadline to May 11, 2027 for FQHCs (15+ Employees) — One-Year Reprieve, Obligations Unchanged
HHS's first major Section 504 update in ~50 years set WCAG 2.1 AA web/mobile accessibility requirements for every FQHC with 15+ employees. On May 7, 2026 HHS OCR issued an Interim Final Rule (Federal Register 2026-09266) EXTENDING the web/mobile compliance deadline one year to May 11, 2027 (May 10, 2028 for recipients with fewer than 15 employees) — explicitly to give community health centers, hospitals, and primary care centers time to comply.
So FQHCs DID receive the extension. The underlying Section 504 non-discrimination obligations remain in effect now, and OCR can still investigate accessibility complaints.
(Separate Section 504 medical-equipment accessibility requirements — e.g., accessible exam tables/scales — run on their own timeline.) Use the extra year to audit web/mobile against WCAG 2.1 AA and remediate.
Key takeaways
- Deadline is May 11, 2026 — 3 weeks away. Audit your FQHC website now for WCAG 2.1 AA: color contrast, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, form labels
- Accessible exam table + weight scale required by July 8, 2026 — budget and procure now if not already in place
- State and local governments got a DOJ extension to 2027; FQHCs did NOT — do not assume county FQHC partners' extension applies to you
Linked evidence
HHS Office for Civil RightsSource packet
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FQHC Talent. (2026, May 11). HHS Extends Section 504 WCAG 2.1 AA Web/Mobile Accessibility Deadline to May 11, 2027 for FQHCs (15+ Employees) — One-Year Reprieve, Obligations Unchanged. Linked evidence: HHS Office for Civil Rights. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/hhs-section-504-wcag-21aa-fqhc-deadline-may-2026
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