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Title 29 — LaborRelease 119-73not60

§794f Establishment of Standards for Accessible Medical Diagnostic Equipment

Title 29 › Chapter 16— VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND OTHER REHABILITATION SERVICES › Subchapter V— RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY › § 794f

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board must create regulatory standards under the Administrative Procedure Act, within 24 months after March 23, 2010, working with the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. The rules must make medical diagnostic equipment in clinics, hospitals, and similar places accessible and usable so people with disabilities can enter, use, and leave the equipment on their own as much as possible. The rules cover equipment like exam tables and chairs (including eye and dental chairs), weight scales, mammography machines, x‑ray and other common radiology devices. The Board, again with the FDA Commissioner, must review and update the standards from time to time under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Full Legal Text

Title 29, §794f

Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than 24 months after March 23, 2010,11 See References in Text note below. the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board shall, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, promulgate regulatory standards in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (2 U.S.C. 551 et seq.) 1 setting forth the minimum technical criteria for medical diagnostic equipment used in (or in conjunction with) physician’s offices, clinics, emergency rooms, hospitals, and other medical settings. The standards shall ensure that such equipment is accessible to, and usable by, individuals with accessibility needs, and shall allow independent entry to, use of, and exit from the equipment by such individuals to the maximum extent possible.
(b)The standards issued under subsection (a) for medical diagnostic equipment shall apply to equipment that includes examination tables, examination chairs (including chairs used for eye examinations or procedures, and dental examinations or procedures), weight scales, mammography equipment, x-ray machines, and other radiological equipment commonly used for diagnostic purposes by health professionals.
(c)The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, shall periodically review and, as appropriate, amend the standards in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (2 U.S.C. 551 et seq.).1

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

March 23, 2010, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “the date of enactment of the Affordable Health Choices Act”, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. 111–148, which enacted this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. The Administrative Procedure Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), is act
June 11, 1946, ch. 324, 60 Stat. 237, which was repealed and reenacted as subchapter II of chapter 5, and chapter 7, of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, by Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

29 U.S.C. § 794f

Title 29 — Labor

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60