AAO Joins Dental Coalition in Advocating for Dental Practices
On Wednesday, March 18, Congress passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, to provide relief to families and businesses that may be affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The AAO, in cooperation with other dental groups, is taking steps to see that AAO member practices are not unduly affected by the legislation.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides paid benefits to employees affected by the coronavirus in two different ways, through 1) amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and 2) new emergency paid sick leave provisions.
Under the FMLA amendments, employees are entitled to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave to care for a child younger than 18 whose school is closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable. Notable for many AAO members’ practices, the amendment carves out an exception for businesses with 50 or less employees, which are shielded from liability for damages in a civil action for violating the new extended FMLA leave provision.
Learn more about this legislation and how it affects orthodontists here.