ADA initiates grassroots campaign for next COVID-19 relief bill

Dentists urged to ask lawmakers to support provisions important to dentistry

Washington — The ADA is calling on dentists nationwide to contact their legislators as Congress works on finalizing the next legislation relief package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Dec. 1 Grassroots Alert email that went to dentists enrolled in the ADA’s Legislative Action Center, the Association asked dentists to visit the center to ask their senators and representatives to support provisions important to dentistry in the next bill.

“Thank you for your past efforts on asking your congressional representatives to include key policies in a COVID-19 relief package that are much needed for our profession and our patients,” the alert said. “We are now asking once again to have your voice heard by pressuring Congress to come back together and fully commit to passing a relief bill by the end of the year. As you have gotten back to work in your offices, we can only expect Congress to do the same.”

Among the issues the ADA would like to see included in the next relief package are: reforms to the Paycheck Protection Program to ease process for forgiveness and ensure deductibility of expenses paid for with these loan funds, PPE tax credits, additional student loan relief, liability protections for practices, Medicaid enhancement, incentives for dentists to work in underserved communities, and other policies to assist dental practices in providing essential oral health care to their patients.

The ADA concluded the alert by urging dentists to visit ActionCenter.ADA.org to contact their members of Congress directly about these topics.

For more information about the ADA’s advocacy efforts during COVID-19, visit ADA.org/COVID19Advocacy.