28 CFR Part 35 · Subpart I — Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment
§ 35.210 Requirements for medical diagnostic equipment
Last updated June 11, 2026
What 28 CFR §35.210 requires of state and local governments.
In Plain Language
Public entities that provide health services — including hospitals, clinics, health departments, and other government health programs — may not exclude or deny services to people with disabilities due to inaccessible medical diagnostic equipment. This section prohibits discrimination in health services resulting from equipment that people with mobility impairments, limited upper body strength, or other physical disabilities cannot use independently.
This summary is educational, not legal advice. The official text below controls.
Official Regulatory Text — 28 CFR § 35.210
Verbatim from 28 CFR Part 35, current through June 9, 2026.
No qualified individual with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the health care services, programs, or activities of a public entity offered through or with the use of medical diagnostic equipment (“MDE”), or otherwise be subjected to discrimination by any public entity because the public entity's MDE is not readily accessible to or usable by persons with disabilities.
What § 35.210 Means in Practice
- Medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) used by public health care providers must be accessible: exam tables, scales, imaging equipment, dental chairs, and more
- This subpart was added in 2024 and adopts the U.S. Access Board's MDE Accessibility Standards
- It applies to public hospitals, clinics, health departments, university health systems, and prison medical programs
- Services, programs, and activities that use MDE must be accessible to people with disabilities
Common Questions
Does this apply to our county health department?
Yes. Any public entity providing health services must ensure those services are accessible, including the diagnostic equipment used.
What if our equipment manufacturer does not make accessible versions?
You must find alternative means to provide equivalent diagnostic services — through different equipment, different facilities, or other accommodations.
Does § 35.210 apply to your entity?
You don’t need to fix everything today. You need to know what matters first. We’ll help you find it.
Prefer to talk it through? Call the Title II Line: (608) 960-8830