AGD joined allies in a July 17 Organized Dentistry Coalition (ODC) letter to Congressional leaders that calls on them to include policies that are a priority for dentistry in the next COVID-19 relief package. The priorities include:

• Providing tax credits to small businesses for the purchase of additional personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety improvements to the office.
• Increasing the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) using an economic indicator, while also keeping in place maintenance of effort (MOE) protections if used to support state Medicaid programs with adult and child dental services.
• Providing temporary and targeted liability protection to small businesses that follow applicable public health guidelines during the pandemic.
• Providing additional flexibility for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans by allowing borrowers to:
  
  • Take advantage of the Employee Retention Tax Credit.
  • Use PPP funds to purchase PPE.
  • Take out additional PPP funds.
  • Apply for PPP loans if they are 501(c)(6) organizations.
  • Deduct expenses paid for with PPP loans.
• Incentivizing health care practitioners to work in health-disadvantaged communities that have been further undermined by COVID-19 by providing tax credits, federal grants, additional student loan repayment, and other incentives. 

House and Senate leaders are currently engaged in contentious negotiations over the makeup of the next relief package. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently debuted a package containing Republican policy priorities, while Democrats are continuing to support their own $3.5 trillion Heroes Act (H.R.6800), which was passed in May. Discussions over the next relief bill are expected to continue into the August timeframe.

Impact on General Dentistry: With many small-business dental practices still experiencing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AGD is actively engaging with lawmakers to ensure that impactful policies are included in the next legislative package that is advanced in response to the COVID-19 crisis.