Coronavirus (COVID-19) Advocacy

If you are a dentist, please visit ADA.org/virus for resources to navigate the uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak, with answers to tough questions on topics including employment law and practice owners' obligations to employees, government assistance for businesses, and more.

If you are a patient, please visit MouthHealthy.org/virus to learn what to do about emergency, urgent, and scheduled dental care during the COVID-19 outbreak.

• August 4, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging Congress to amend the CARES Act to ensuring that PPP loans are exempted from taxable income.
• August 3, 2020—Letter (PDF) thanking Reps. Cindy Axne and Neal Dunn for introducing H.R. 7819, the Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act of 2020, which would reduce tax burden on health care providers seeking to combat COVID-19.
• July 31, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders ensure that the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) receives adequate funding as a part of COVID-19 relief.
• July 31, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging members of the Senate Finance Committee to support several COVID-19-related small business tax credit provisions in S. 4318, the American Workers, Families, and Employers Assistance Act.
• July 31, 2020—Letter (PDF) thanking Sens. Marco Rubio and Susan Collins for introducing S. 4321, Continuing Small Business Recovery and Paycheck Protection Program Act, which would make 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organizations eligible to receive PPP loans and provide flexibility to use the funds to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE).
• July 30, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging members of the Senate Judiciary Committee advance S. 4317 the Safe to Work Act, providing temporary liability protections during COVID-19.
• July 30, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging Congress to support the temporary liability relief in S. 4317, the Safe to Work Act.   
• July 22, 2020—Letter (PDF) thanking Rep. Mike Simpson for urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to open provider relief funds to dentists.
• July 17, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to include dentistry's requests in the next COVID-19 relief package.
• July 10, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging House leaders to include dentistry's requests in the next COVID-19 relief package.
• July 10, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging Senate leaders to include dentistry's requests in the next COVID-19 relief package.
• July 9, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) expressing support for S. 4117, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Small Business Forgiveness Act, which would forgive PPP loans of less than $150,000 if the borrower completes a simple, one-page forgiveness document. 
• July 2, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging Congress to make a significant, long-term investment in public health infrastructure by providing $4.5 billion in additional annual funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the state, local, tribal, and territorial public health infrastructure. 
• July 1, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) expressing support for S. 3612, the Small Business Expense Protection Act, which will ensure that small businesses can deduct eligible Paycheck Protection Program expenses from their taxes. 
• July 1, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to support nonprofit associations in COVID-19 relief packages, and to pass the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act and the Skills Renewal Act. 
•  July 1, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) thanking Reps. Brenda Lawrence, Troy Balderson, Mike Quigley, and John Joyce for introducing H.R. 7216, the Small Business Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Tax Credit Act, which would provide a tax credit for the purchase of PPE for small businesses, including dental practices.
• June 25, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to provide a tax exemption for money allocated from the Provider Relief Fund. 
• June 24, 2020—Letter (PDF) thanking Reps. Brenda Lawrence, Troy Balderson, Mike Quigley, and John Joyce for introducing H.R. 7216, the Small Business Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Tax Credit Act, which would provide a tax credit for the purchase of PPE for small businesses, including dental practices.
• June 15, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) thanking Reps. Stephanie Murphy and John Katko for introducing H.R. 6776, the Jumpstarting Our Businesses' Success Credit (JOBS Credit) Act, which would expand and enhance the Employee Retention Tax Credit.
• June 8, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging Senate leaders to support adequate Medicaid oral health funding in the next COVID-19 relief package.
• June 5, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to support a 90-day suspension of all tariffs on medical products and supplies necessary to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• June 1, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) thanking Sen. Martha McSally for introducing S. 3716, the Main Street Enhancement and Safety Act, which would allow Paycheck Protection Program loans to be used for the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment. 
• May 27, 2020​—Coalition Letter (PDF) thanking Reps. Chip Roy and Dean Phillips for introducing H.R. 6886, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, which would reform portions of the Paycheck Protection Program.
• May 27, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) thanking Sens. Marco Rubio, Ben Cardin, Susan Collins, Jeanne Shaheen, and Richard Durbin for introducing S. 3833, the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act, which would extend and reform portions of the Paycheck Protection Program.
• May 26, 2020—Letter (PDF) thanking Reps. Chip Roy and Dean Phillips for introducing H.R. 6886, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, which would extend and reform portions of the Paycheck Protection Program.
• May 21, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) thanking Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) for his efforts on behalf of Dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• May 21, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) thanking Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán for her efforts on behalf of dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• May 19, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to enhance commercial business interruption insurance in the next COVID-19 relief package.
• May 11, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to include 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organizations in the Paycheck Protection Program.
• May 7, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee to ensure the loan forgiveness provided under the Paycheck Protection Program is not treated as taxable income.   
• May 1, 2020—Coalition Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to provide flexibility to use Paycheck Protection Program funds to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• April 29, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to consider several proposals to help dentists, dental practices, and their patients and staff in the next COVID-19 relief package.
• April 28, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to increase health care coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• April 17, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to adequately fund and make significant improvements to several Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan programs to help small businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• April 14, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging members of the House and Senate small business committees to include 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organizations in future COVID-19 relief packages.
• April 13, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to prioritize the scarcity of personal protective equipment (PPE) in future legislation to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
• April 10, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders to adequately fund and make significant improvements to several Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan programs to help small businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• April 10, 2020—Letter (PDF) thanking Rep. Bill Huizenga for sponsoring H.R. 6433, the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations (HEROES) Act of 2020, which would extend a four month federal income tax holiday for health care personnel and other front line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• March 18, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging congressional leaders and the president to consider several proposals in a third legislative package to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
• March 18, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging Senate leaders to consider several proposals in the third legislative package to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
• March 16, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging Senate leaders to consider several proposals in the third legislative package to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

• July 1, 2020—Letter (PDF) requesting guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for providers that are being found ineligible for money through the Provider Relief Fund. 
• May 11, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extend the grace period for dentists on H-1B visas.
• May 6, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to quickly provide guidance on how best to protect dental patients and staff in parts of the country that are recovering from the COVID-19 outbreak.
• May 1, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Small Business Administration and Department of the Treasury to provide flexibility to use Paycheck Protection Program funds to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• April 27, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend the COVID-19 Telehealth Program to all dental practices, regardless of size, location, or for-profit status.
• April 22, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize dentists to conduct point-of-care testing for COVID-19.
• April 17, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide immediate access to capital by releasing funding from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund to dentists that are Medicaid providers.
• April 17, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to authorize dentists to conduct point-of-care testing for COVID-19.
• April 15, 2020—Letter (PDF) thanking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for being flexible in enforcing certain federal environmental compliance obligations during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• April 3, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging the Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue clear guidance to help dentists applying for Paycheck Protection Program 7(a) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
• March 27, 2020—Public statement (PDF) supporting emergency efforts at the federal level to dramatically increase the production and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other necessary medical equipment and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• March 24, 2020—Letter (PDF) urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide immediate guidance on how best to protect dental patients and staff from the transmission of COVID-19 during emergency and urgent care situations.
• March 18, 2020—Coalition letter (PDF) urging the Department of Labor to exempt small businesses from certain provisions in H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Action Alerts

• May 7, 2020—Action Alert (PDF): Urge Congress to Protect Dentistry in CARES - 2.0
• April 4, 2020—Action Alert (PDF): Urge SBA and Treasury to Clarify 7(a) Loan Rule
• March 19, 2020—Action Alert (PDF): Urge your Members of Congress to Include Dentistry in COVID-19 Relief Packages

Updates

• August 1, 2020—Update (PDF): Major Updates from HHS on the Provider Relief Fund: Deadline Extended to Aug. 28
• July 23, 2020—Update (PDF): HHS Updates on Provider Relief Fund for Dentists
• July 14, 2020—Update (PDF): Advocacy Efforts Continue During Pandemic
• July 13, 2020—Update (PDF): HHS Publishes More Details on Provider Relief Fund’s Dental Distribution
• July 10, 2020—Update (PDF): All Dentists Now Eligible for Provider Relief Fund Payment
• June 4, 2020—Update (PDF): Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act Passes Congress
• May 5, 2020—Update (PDF): Congress Plans Next COVID-19 Relief Legislation
• April 23, 2020—Update (PDF): Congress increases funding for PPP, EIDL loans
• April 17, 2020—Update (PDF): COVID-19 Testing in Dental Practices
• April 6, 2020—Update (PDF): Small Business Administration Clarifies Rule with ADA
• April 3, 2020—Update (PDF): Department of Labor Issues Regulations on Exemptions for Small Businesses Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• March 30, 2020—Update (PDF): Resources Concerning SBA Loans for Dentists and Their Practices
• March 27, 2020—Update (PDF): House Passes H.R. 748, CARES Act, 3rd COVID-19 Relief Bill Will Soon Be Law
• March 25, 2020—Update (PDF): Senate passes CARES Act, 3rd COVID-19 relief bill
• March 23, 2020—Update (PDF) on Legislative Issues
• March 21, 2020—Update (PDF): Working to Keep Key Provisions in the Senate CARES Act
• March 20, 2020—Update (PDF): Legislative Issue Alert
• March 19, 2020—Update (PDF): ADA Lobbies Congress On Third Coronavirus Bill
• March 19, 2020—Update (PDF): Congress Passes Second Coronavirus Legislation Package, Now Working On Third
• March 18, 2020—Update (PDF) on H.R. 6201 – Senate Action

Related stories from the dental profession's most widely read news source, ADA News.

• ADA, others urge Congress to ensure expenses paid for with PPP funds are tax deductible (08/05/2020)
• ADA thanks lawmakers for bill calling for provider relief funding to be tax deductible (08/05/2020)
• HHS extends Provider Relief Fund deadline (08/01/2020)
• ADA weighs in on HEALS Act (07/31/2020)
• ADA answers top questions about the Provider Relief Fund (07/29/2020)
• HHS answers popular Provider Relief Fund questions (07/23/2020)
• Ninth wave of HPI poll shows dental care rebound tapering off (07/23/2020)
• Coalition urges Congress to make provider relief funding tax deductible (07/17/2020)
• Dental organizations urge Congress to assist dentists, dental practices in next COVID package (07/17/2020)
• Dentists have until Aug. 3 to apply to HHS Provider Relief Fund (07/17/2020)
• Dentists encouraged to apply as soon as possible for HHS provider relief funding (07/17/2020)
• Coalition urges Congress to forgive PPP loans less than $150,000 (07/16/2020)
• ADA calls for associations to be included in Paycheck Protection Program (07/14/2020)
• ADA, coalition urges Congress for $4.5 billion investment in public health infrastructure (07/13/2020)
• HHS opens Provider Relief Fund to dentists (07/13/2020)
• IRS offers guidance on sick, family leave reporting requirements (07/10/2020)
• Eighth wave of HPI poll shows dental care rebound slowing down (07/09/2020)
• Coalition calls for business expenses paid for with PPP to be deductible (07/08/2020)
• Paycheck Protection Program application deadline extended to Aug. 8 (07/06/2020)
• ADA urges eligible Medicaid, CHIP providers to apply for HHS relief funding (07/06/2020)
• ADA thanks lawmakers for introducing PPE tax credit legislation (06/26/2020)
• Amalgam separator requirement in effect July 14 (06/24/2020)
• HRSA devotes $107.2 million to expanding workforce, improving diversity of health professionals (06/22/2020)
• Dental practices continue to recover, according to HPI poll (06/22/2020)
• ADA responds to change from CDC on waiting period length (06/19/2020)
• HHS Medicaid Provider Relief Fund webinars set for June 23, 25 (06/18/2020)
• June 11 HPI webinar examines dental care rebound (06/17/2020)
• ADA supports proposed legislation to enhance Employee Retention Tax Credit (06/17/2020)
• HHS Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal Opens (06/10/2020)
• ADA, DTA ask Congress to suspend tariffs on products necessary during pandemic (06/10/2020)
• HHS releases provider relief funds (06/09/2020)
• ADA to host small business loans webinar June 12 (06/08/2020)
• ADA receives masks from national stockpile (06/05/2020)
• HPI polling shows robust, sustained rebound in dental care (06/05/2020)
• Senate passes Paycheck Protection Program reform bill (06/04/2020)
• Organized Dentistry Coalition supports Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness for PPE, supply costs (06/03/2020)
• Colorado Dental Association saves adult Medicaid dental program in face of coronavirus-related cuts (06/03/2020)
• CDC guidance for dental settings echoes ADA guidance (06/02/2020)
• Latest HPI webinar looks at data from reopened states (06/02/2020)
• Organized Dentistry Coalition supports two bills to improve Paycheck Protection Program (05/28/2020)
• House passes Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (05/28/2020)
• Coalition asks Congress for ‘temporary and targeted’ liability relief legislation (05/27/2020)
• ADA supports legislation to reform Paycheck Protection Program, asks for additional flexibility (05/27/2020)
• ADA recovery task force releases hazard assessment guide, checklist (05/26/2020)
• HPI polling shows dental practices recovering as states reopen (05/26/2020)
• Coalition asks Congress, agencies to overhaul Paycheck Protection Program (05/21/2020)
• Dental groups thank Sen. Cardin, Rep. Barragán for prioritizing dental care (05/21/2020)
• Organized dentistry asks Congress to enhance commercial business interruption insurance policies (05/20/2020)
• Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application available online (05/19/2020)
• ADA recovery task force to release hazard assessment tool (05/15/2020)
• FDA removes Emergency Use Authorization for some KN95 masks (05/15/2020)
• HPI releases webinar on COVID-19 poll data (05/14/2020)
• ADA requests H-1B visa grace period be extended to six months (05/14/2020)
• ADA priorities included in new HEROES Act (05/14/2020)
• ADA urges CDC to update guidance for dental personnel (05/12/2020)
• Fourth wave of HPI polling shows dental practices in early stages of recovery (05/11/2020)
• ADA urges Congress to ask IRS to make Paycheck Protection Program expenses tax deductible (05/11/2020)
• ADA members have governors’ ears as states consider reopening (05/11/2020)
• HPI releases webinar on economic impact of COVID-19 (05/07/2020)
• ADA tip sheet includes CDC guidance on identifying counterfeit N95 masks (05/07/2020)
• CMS updates COVID-19 FAQ (05/06/2020)
• Organized dentistry asks Congress for flexibility in Paycheck Protection Program loans (05/06/2020)
• Department of Labor releases Pandemic Unemployment Assistance FAQ (05/05/2020)
• ADA asks Congress to help dental community in next COVID-19 legislation (05/05/2020)
• ADA urges CDC to update guidance for dental personnel (05/05/2020)
• Organized dentistry asks Congress for flexibility in Paycheck Protection Program loans (05/06/2020)
• CMS updates COVID-19 FAQ (05/06/2020)
• ADA asks Congress to help dental community in next COVID-19 legislation (05/05/2020)
• Department of Labor releases Pandemic Unemployment Assistance FAQ (05/05/2020)
• Agencies submit final rule extending ERISA deadlines during pandemic (04/30/2020)
• Find COVID-19 dental regulations by state with ADA interactive map (04/30/2020)
• ADA asks FCC to include dentists in COVID-19 Telehealth Program (04/27/2020)
• ADA, others ask lawmakers to include nonprofits in COVID-19 legislation (04/23/2020)
• Be ready to apply for SBA loan (04/23/2020)
• House of Representatives passes Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (04/23/2020)
• Dental groups seek federal approval to administer COVID-19 tests (04/21/2020)
• Senate votes to expand small business aid (04/22/2020)
• Dental organizations urge HHS, CMS to release CARES Act relief funds (04/20/2020)
• Amalgam separator deadline remains intact (04/17/2020)
• ADA urges HHS to federally recognize licensed dentists to administer point of service COVID-19 tests (04/17/2020)
• SBA funding no longer available for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Paycheck Protection Program (04/16/2020)
• SBA changes grant computation for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (04/15/2020)
• Homeland Security issues alert on cybercriminals increasingly exploiting COVID-19 pandemic (04/14/2020)
• ADA asks Congress to ensure appropriate PPE for all health care workers (04/14/2020)
• ADA asks Congress to increase funding, extend dates for Small Business Administration loans (04/13/2020)
• ADA thanks Rep. Huizenga for HEROES Act (04/13/2020)
• Webinar on Small Business Administration loans available online (04/10/2020)
• OCR warns of imposter posing as investigator (04/07/2020)
• SBA: Dentists can apply for both economic injury disaster and paycheck protection program loans (04/06/2020)
• ADA asks Treasury Department, Small Business Administration to clarify intent of interim rule (04/05/2020)
• Office of Federal Student Aid has an FAQ for student loan questions (04/02/2020)
• ADA will share Paycheck Protection Program information as soon as it becomes available (04/02/2020)
• IRS publishes Employee Retention Credit FAQ (04/01/2020)
• ADA joins other health care organizations in appeal for more PPE, other supplies (03/27/2020)
• CARES Act becomes law (03/27/2020)
• Senate passes CARES Act (03/25/2020)
• Labor Dept. releases new guidance in response to Families First Coronavirus Response Act (03/26/2020)
• Lawmakers reach agreement on CARES Act (03/25/2020)
• HRSA updates FAQs for health centers during COVID-19 (03/24/2020)
• ADA urges CDC to provide immediate guidance on protecting dental patients, staff from COVID-19 during emergency treatments (03/24/2020)
• DEA Call Center suspends phone operations (03/23/2020)
• ADA president thanks dentists for grassroots efforts in response to CARES Act (03/23/2020)
• ADA initiates grassroots campaign in response to CARES Act (03/22/2020)
• ADA, other organizations outline economic response needs to survive pandemic (03/20/2020)
• ADA lobbies Congress on CARES Act (03/20/2020)
• ADA, other dental organizations ask Labor Department to help small businesses (03/19/2020)
• ADA urges Congress to increase relief for small businesses, dentist owners (03/19/2020)
• Senate passes coronavirus legislative package (03/19/2020)
• Treasury, IRS delay federal tax filing, payments until July 15 (03/19/2020)
• ADA lobbies Congress' coronavirus legislative package (03/17/2020)
• OSHA issues coronavirus guidance (03/13/20)
• ADA to Congress: Include dentists, patients in coronavirus legislation (03/13/2020)

If you’re a member of the media seeking information about COVID-19 and dentistry, or if you would like to interview an ADA spokesperson, please contact the ADA Media Relations team.

Media Relations
312.440.2806
Email: mediarelations@ada.org

Government and Public Affairs

Washington Office
202.898.2400
Email: govtpol@ada.org

State Government Affairs
312.440.2525
Email: govtpol@ada.org

American Dental Political Action Committee (ADPAC)
202.898.2424
Email: adpac@ada.org

Center for Professional Success (CPS)

Questions about government rules and regulations? Explore the ADA Center for Professional Success. (Members Only)

Other Questions

Have questions? We’re here to help! Click the ‘Live Chat’ box on the right side of the screen between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. (Central) Monday-Friday.