diff --git a/oslo_middleware/healthcheck/__init__.py b/oslo_middleware/healthcheck/__init__.py
index 733fd6c..158baff 100644
--- a/oslo_middleware/healthcheck/__init__.py
+++ b/oslo_middleware/healthcheck/__init__.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import sys
 import traceback
 import typing as ty
 
-from debtcollector import removals
 import jinja2
 from oslo_utils import reflection
 from oslo_utils import timeutils
@@ -406,7 +405,6 @@ Reason
         self.oslo_conf.register_opts(
             opts.HEALTHCHECK_OPTS, group='healthcheck'
         )
-        self._path = self._conf_get('path')
         self._show_details = self._conf_get('detailed')
         self._source_ranges = [
             ipaddress.ip_network(r)
@@ -440,7 +438,6 @@ Reason
         # always return text/plain (because sending an error from this
         # middleware actually can cause issues).
         self._default_accept = 'text/plain'
-        self._ignore_path = False
 
     def _verify_configured_plugins(self) -> None:
         backends = self._conf_get('backends')
@@ -456,17 +453,15 @@ Reason
     def _conf_get(self, key: str, group: str = 'healthcheck') -> ty.Any:
         return super()._conf_get(key, group=group)
 
-    @removals.remove(  # type: ignore
-        message="The healthcheck middleware must now be configured as "
-        "an application, not as a filter"
-    )
     @classmethod
     def factory(
-        cls,
+        cls: type[base.MiddlewareType],
         global_conf: dict[str, ty.Any] | None,
         **local_conf: ty.Any,
-    ) -> ty.Callable[[WSGIApplication], base.ConfigurableMiddleware]:
-        return super().factory(global_conf, **local_conf)
+    ) -> ty.Callable[[WSGIApplication], base.MiddlewareType]:
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            'HealthcheckMiddleware should be deployed as an app, not a filter'
+        )
 
     @classmethod
     def app_factory(
@@ -486,7 +481,6 @@ Reason
         conf = global_conf.copy() if global_conf else {}
         conf.update(local_conf)
         middleware = cls(None, conf)
-        middleware._ignore_path = True
         return middleware
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -629,9 +623,6 @@ Reason
         self,
         req: webob.request.Request,
     ) -> webob.response.Response | None:
-        if not self._ignore_path and req.path != self._path:
-            return None
-
         if self._source_ranges:
             if not req.remote_addr:
                 return None
diff --git a/oslo_middleware/healthcheck/opts.py b/oslo_middleware/healthcheck/opts.py
index 951e456..b47693f 100644
--- a/oslo_middleware/healthcheck/opts.py
+++ b/oslo_middleware/healthcheck/opts.py
@@ -14,12 +14,6 @@ from oslo_config import cfg
 
 
 HEALTHCHECK_OPTS = [
-    cfg.StrOpt(
-        'path',
-        default='/healthcheck',
-        deprecated_for_removal=True,
-        help='The path to respond to healtcheck requests on.',
-    ),
     cfg.BoolOpt(
         'detailed',
         default=False,
diff --git a/oslo_middleware/tests/test_entry_points.py b/oslo_middleware/tests/test_entry_points.py
index 8a64cb7..53e59eb 100644
--- a/oslo_middleware/tests/test_entry_points.py
+++ b/oslo_middleware/tests/test_entry_points.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ class TestPasteDeploymentEntryPoints(base.BaseTestCase):
             'correlation_id': 'CorrelationId',
             'cors': 'CORS',
             'debug': 'Debug',
-            'healthcheck': 'Healthcheck',
             'http_proxy_to_wsgi': 'HTTPProxyToWSGI',
             'request_id': 'RequestId',
             'sizelimit': 'RequestBodySizeLimiter',
diff --git a/oslo_middleware/tests/test_healthcheck.py b/oslo_middleware/tests/test_healthcheck.py
index 891e1dc..9a2d32e 100644
--- a/oslo_middleware/tests/test_healthcheck.py
+++ b/oslo_middleware/tests/test_healthcheck.py
@@ -105,20 +105,9 @@ class HealthcheckTests(test_base.BaseTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(expected_code, res.status_int)
         self.assertEqual(expected_body, res.body)
 
-    def test_default_path_match(self):
+    def test_default(self):
         self._do_test()
 
-    def test_default_path_not_match(self):
-        self._do_test(path='/toto', expected_body=b'Hello, World!!!')
-
-    def test_configured_path_match(self):
-        conf = {'path': '/hidden_healthcheck'}
-        self._do_test(conf, path='/hidden_healthcheck')
-
-    def test_configured_path_not_match(self):
-        conf = {'path': '/hidden_healthcheck'}
-        self._do_test(conf, path='/toto', expected_body=b'Hello, World!!!')
-
     @mock.patch('oslo_middleware.healthcheck.disable_by_file.LOG')
     def test_disablefile_unconfigured(self, fake_log):
         fake_warn = fake_log.warning
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 7457e25..c2aa288 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ catch_errors = "oslo_middleware:CatchErrors.factory"
 correlation_id = "oslo_middleware:CorrelationId.factory"
 cors = "oslo_middleware:CORS.factory"
 debug = "oslo_middleware:Debug.factory"
-healthcheck = "oslo_middleware:Healthcheck.factory"
 http_proxy_to_wsgi = "oslo_middleware:HTTPProxyToWSGI.factory"
 request_id = "oslo_middleware:RequestId.factory"
 sizelimit = "oslo_middleware:RequestBodySizeLimiter.factory"
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/healthcheck-app-only-f6442fa7da6dd22e.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/healthcheck-app-only-f6442fa7da6dd22e.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b04259
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/healthcheck-app-only-f6442fa7da6dd22e.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+upgrade:
+  - |
+    The HealthCheck middleware no longer supports being deployed as a filter.
+    It should be deployed as an application.