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<ul class="usa-nav__secondary-links"> <li class="usa-nav__secondary-item"> <a href="/es/">En Español</a> </li> </ul> <form id="search_form" class="usa-search usa-search--small" action="/search/" accept-charset="UTF-8" method="get"> <input name="utf8" type="hidden" value="✓" /> <input name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="usab" /> <div role="search"> <label class="usa-sr-only" for="extended-search-field-small">Search</label> <input class="usa-input usagov-search-autocomplete" id="extended-search-field-small" type="search" name="query" autocomplete="off"> <button class="usa-button" type="submit"> <img src="/img/usa-icons-bg/search--white.svg" class="usa-search__submit-icon" alt="Search"> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> </nav> </header> <main class="usa-layout-docs bg-base-lightest"> <div id="section-title" class="bg-primary-darker usa-content font-serif-md padding-y-2"> <div class="grid-container text-center maxw-desktop"> <h1 class="text-normal text-white margin-0"> Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards </h1> <h3 class="text-italic text-white margin-0 margin-top-1"></h3> </div> </div> <div class="maxw-full"> <div class="grid-row"> <aside id="toc" class="desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-2 padding-right-2 border-right-width-2"> <div class="padding-2 bg-white height-viewport overflow-y-scroll sticky"> <nav role="navigation" class="toc-subnav usa-accordion" aria-multiselectable="true" aria-label="Table of contents subnavigation"> <ul class="usa-sidenav"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <button class="top-level-accordion usa-accordion__button text-center text-uppercase text-heavy" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="subnav-list" > Table of Contents </button> <ul id="subnav-list" class="usa-accordion__content usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <button class="subnav-anchor usa-current usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="subsections" > About MDE </button> <ul id="subsections" class="usa-accordion__content usa-sidenav__sublist" aria-label="Page sections navigation"> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/mde/preamble/" > 2017 Preamble </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/mde/chapter-m1/" > Chapter 1: Application and Administration </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/mde/chapter-m2/" > Chapter 2: Scoping </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/mde/chapter-m3/" > Chapter 3: Technical Requirements </a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </aside> <div class="desktop:grid-col padding-0"> <div id="content" class="usa-prose margin-3 padding-3 bg-white border anchored"> <div class="pdf-button-container"> <a class="usa-button pdf-button float-right" title="Standards for Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment" href="/files/mde/mde-rule.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">PDF</a> </div> <div id="toc-source-content"> <h2 id="about-the-accessibility-standards-for-medical-diagnostic-equipment">About the Accessibility Standards for Medical Diagnostic Equipment</h2> <p><img src="/images/mde/mde.jpg" alt="exam table" class="float-right img-med" /></p> <p>The Access Board has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to remove the sunset provisions in the our existing accessibility standards for medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) related to the low-height specifications for transfer surfaces, and replace them with a final specification for the low-transfer-height of medical diagnostic equipment used in the supine, prone, side-lying position and the seated position. The NPRM is open for public comment on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/ATBCB-2023-0001-0001">Regulations.gov</a> until August 31, 2023. More information is available in the <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-10827">Federal Register notice</a>).</p> <p>The accessibility standards for MDE under the Rehabilitation Act provide design criteria for examination tables and chairs, weight scales, radiological and mammography equipment, and other diagnostic equipment that are accessible to people with disabilities. They include requirements for equipment that necessitates transfer from mobility aids and address transfer surfaces, support rails, armrests, and other features. The Board developed the standards in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration.</p> <p>As issued by the Board, the standards are not mandatory on health care providers and equipment manufacturers. The Department of Justice may adopt them as mandatory requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Other federal agencies may implement them as well under the Rehabilitation Act which requires access to federally funded programs and services.</p> <h3 id="background">Background</h3> <ul> <li>February 9, 2012 – The Board releases <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/ATBCB-2012-0003-0001">proposed standards</a> for <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ATBCB-2012-0003/comments">public comment</a>.</li> <li>July 5, 2012 – The Board issues <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/ATBCB-2012-0003-0064">notice of establishment of Advisory Committee</a> to assist it in finalizing the standards.</li> <li>December 6, 2013 – The MDE <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ATBCB-2013-0009/document">Advisory Committee Report</a> is submitted to the Board.</li> <li>January 9, 2017 – The Board issues <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/ATBCB-2012-0003-0077">final standards for MDE</a>.</li> <li>February 3, 2022 – The Board issues <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ATBCB-2022-0002">Direct Final Rule</a> (DFR) extending the sunset provision regarding the specification for low transfer heights for three years.</li> <li>May 23, 2023 – The Board issues <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ATBCB-2023-0001">Notice of Proposed Rulemaking</a> (NPRM) removing the sunset provision and provides specification for the low-transfer-height of medical diagnostic.</li> <li>August 1, 2023 – The Board issues <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-16218">extension of comment period</a>.</li> <li>July 25, 2024 – The Board publishes <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2024-16266">Final Rule</a>.</li> </ul> </div> <div class="noprint"> <section role="navigation" aria-label="return to top of page" class="noprint"> <div class="margin-x-auto text-center"> <a class="text-primary text-no-underline" href="#"> <img src="/assets/uswds/img/angle-arrow-up-primary.svg" class="usa-media-block__img margin-y-3 padding-1 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