As you know, Congress recently passed the CARES Act
2.0, which allocated an additional $310 billion in funding. However, this new
stimulus package did not include changes to the time period in which small
business owners have to seek forgiveness for the PPP loans, nor did it include
flexibility for borrowers to use PPP funding for Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) costs. The AAO understands that the current date by which borrowers must
rehire staff, June 30th, is not possible for some members,
particularly those who practice in states where orthodontic offices cannot yet
reopen. The AAO legal and advocacy team will continue to work with our federal
lobbyists to monitor any federal measures to address the impact that COVID-19
is having on our members, but Congress
wants to hear from you, as their constituents and as orthodontists.
If
you’d like, we encourage you to reach
out to your representatives in Congress to ask that the next COVID-19 relief
package include provisions that allow small business dental practices to choose
the 8-week period for which they seek forgiveness for the loans and rehire
staff before December 31, 2020, instead of requiring them to rehire staff by
June 30, 2020.
You might also consider asking that the non-payroll costs that are allowable
for PPP be expanded to include the cost of PPE. Allowing this flexibility for
PPP loan proceeds will help to mitigate the increased costs of the PPE that
will be required to provide care to patients and protect you and your
employees.
You can click HERE
to easily contact your representatives in Congress. We have provided you
information to get started, but we encourage you to add your personal story as
well. If you have any questions, please contact the AAO’s Government Affairs
Specialist, Gianna Hartwig, at ghartwig@aaortho.org.
The AAO legal and advocacy team will continue to work with our federal
lobbyists to monitor any federal measures to address the impact that COVID-19
is having, or will have, on our members as healthcare professionals and small
business owners and, where appropriate, lobby for inclusion of our members in
such relief measures.
Sincerely,
The American Association of Orthodontists
