If your practice has a website (and it should!), there are legal standards you need to meet. As someone who has spent years working in both the legal and healthcare industries, I’ve seen how important compliance can be for the health and safety of your company. Before we dive into the content, I want to emphasize that I am not an attorney, and nothing that is said on this page or website should be taken as legal advice. Everything presented here is for educational purposes only. Laws vary by region and change frequently. Conduct your own research to determine how various legal standards and requirements may appl to your practice in your own area. Okay, now that we’ve covered that, let’s jump into what you came here for… A healthcare website isn’t just a marketing tool. It’s a digital extension of your clinical care, your reputation, and your compliance strategy. From HIPAA and ADA to SSL and privacy protections, your site must be designed to safeguard patient data and ensure access for everyone.
This guide outlines the legal requirements for healthcare websites and explains why partnering with the right healthcare website design company can make all the difference.
HIPAA Compliance: Protecting Patient Information Online
If your website collects patient information, you’re responsible for protecting that data under HIPAA. That includes anything submitted through contact forms, appointment requests, chat tools, or surveys.
There are two main components to understand:
The HIPAA Privacy Rule
The HIPAA Privacy Rule sets the national standard for how healthcare providers handle protected health information (PHI). It applies to any covered entity or business associate that collects or manages identifiable patient data online. This includes names, email addresses, appointment details, health conditions, and anything else that can be linked to an individual.
The goal of the Privacy Rule is to protect patient confidentiality while still allowing the flow of health information needed to provide quality care. For your website, that means being deliberate about what you collect, why you collect it, and how it is protected once submitted.
Key requirements of the Privacy Rule include:
- Notice of Privacy Practices: Patients must be informed about how their information will be used. Your website should include a clear, easy-to-find privacy policy that outlines your data collection and sharing practices.
- Minimum Necessary Standard: You are only allowed to collect and share the information that is absolutely necessary to perform a function. For example, if you offer a contact form, you should avoid asking for detailed medical history unless it is essential for that interaction.
- Patient Rights: Patients have the right to access their health information, request corrections, and decide who it’s shared with. Your website should support this by offering instructions or tools for patients to make those requests.
- Authorization for Use and Disclosure: Any use of PHI beyond treatment, payment, or healthcare operations requires explicit patient authorization. This includes marketing emails or sharing data with third parties that are not covered by a BAA.
If your website collects any type of PHI, even through something as simple as an appointment request form, you must follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Failing to comply can lead to serious consequences, including audits, fines, and reputational harm.
A healthcare website design company that understands HIPAA should help you minimize risk by limiting unnecessary data collection, including appropriate disclaimers, and ensuring that any patient data submitted through your site is protected and purpose-driven.
The HIPAA Security Rule
While the Privacy Rule governs how PHI is collected and shared, the Security Rule focuses on how that data is technically protected behind the scenes. It applies specifically to electronic protected health information (ePHI) and outlines the steps you must take to prevent unauthorized access, tampering, or breaches.
Key technical safeguards your website must implement include:
- Data encryption during transmission (e.g., secure forms and HTTPS) and at rest (e.g., secure cloud storage)
- Access controls that limit who can view PHI in your CMS or form tools
- Audit logs that track access to patient data
- Automatic session timeouts for backend users with access to sensitive content
- Regular security assessments and updates to protect against evolving threats
In short, the Security Rule is about locking the digital doors to your practice. If your healthcare website design company does not account for these technical standards, your website could become an entry point for data breaches or regulatory fines.
ADA Compliance: Creating Accessible Digital Experiences
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires your website to be accessible to all patients, including those who use assistive technology or have visual or motor impairments.
Web accessibility is not a nice-to-have. It’s required by law and expected by patients.
Your site should include:
- Alt text for all images
- Strong color contrast
- Full keyboard navigation
- Clearly labeled form fields
- Compatibility with screen readers
A reputable healthcare website design company will design to meet or exceed WCAG 2.1 AA standards and audit your site using tools like WAVE or Axe.
SSL Encryption: Securing Patient Data
SSL encryption ensures that all data submitted through your site is protected. If your URL begins with “https,” your site has SSL enabled. If not, it’s time for an urgent upgrade.
SSL is part of HIPAA’s technical safeguards and also supports better search engine rankings. It gives patients visual confirmation that your site is secure and trustworthy.
SSL installation and renewal should be standard in any website design package for healthcare providers.
Privacy and Data Transparency Requirements
Today’s patients expect transparency about how their information is used. Many states also have specific privacy laws, such as California’s CCPA, that require clear disclosures.
To meet general privacy standards, your website should include:
- A clearly written privacy policy
- A visible link to the policy on every page
- Cookie consent notices (if you use tracking software)
- Clear instructions for how patients can request access to or deletion of their data
These steps aren’t just legal best practices—they show that your practice respects patient rights and takes data protection seriously.
Why a Website Redesign Is the Perfect Time to Get Compliant
Many older healthcare websites were built before these regulations were widely enforced. A redesign is the perfect opportunity to address compliance gaps and modernize your online presence.
A healthcare website redesign can:
- Implement encrypted, HIPAA-compliant forms
- Bake ADA accessibility into the foundation of your site
- Ensure SSL is active and monitored
- Replace outdated systems with secure, easy-to-update tools
- Help your staff manage content without compromising patient privacy
We recently worked with a nursing services provider whose old site lacked both encryption and mobile usability. After a full redesign, their website was fully compliant and saw a sharp increase in organic flu clinic registrations.
Quick Compliance Checklist for Healthcare Websites
Use this checklist to review your current website or prepare for a redesign:
- HIPAA-compliant hosting and cloud storage
- SSL certificate and HTTPS encryption
- Secure online forms for PHI
- Signed Business Associate Agreements with vendors
- Accessibility features (WCAG 2.1 AA standards)
- Clearly written privacy policy
- Cookie consent notice (if using tracking)
- Role-based access to sensitive data
- Regular, HIPAA-compliant data backups
- Team training on web-based PHI handling
If you can’t check every box with confidence, it’s time to bring in an experienced healthcare website design company like Joyce Voice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important legal requirements for healthcare websites?
At minimum, you need HIPAA compliance, ADA accessibility, SSL encryption, and a clear privacy policy. These are required to protect patient data and avoid legal risks.
Is ADA compliance really required for my practice website?
Yes. Even small private practices must meet accessibility standards to avoid discrimination claims and lawsuits.
Do I need a Business Associate Agreement with my web designer?
Yes, if they have access to PHI through the website. All vendors handling PHI must sign a BAA.
What happens if my healthcare website isn’t compliant?
You could face penalties from HHS, lawsuits, patient complaints, or data breaches. Non-compliance also erodes patient trust and damages your reputation.
Let’s Build a Website That’s Compliant, Accessible, and Conversion-Focused
A compliant website isn’t a bonus in the healthcare field. When strategically executed, it protects your patients, your business, and your brand.
At Joyce Voice, we specialize in healthcare website design that meets HIPAA, ADA, and security standards while driving real growth. We design with compliance and marketing in mind, so your website works harder for your practice.
Fill out the form below to learn how we’ve helped other healthcare providers upgrade their websites, and how yours can be next.