The ADA is hailing new legislation in Congress that will offer small businesses a $25,000 tax credit for purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
If enacted, HR 7216 (the Small Business Personal Protective Equipment Tax Credit Act) would provide small businesses -- including dental practices -- with a tax credit of up to $25,000 for the purchase of gloves, medical masks, N95 respirators, eye protection, gowns and aprons, boots or closed-toe work shoes, cleaning detergents, hand sanitizers, and cleaning products and tools, as well as the retrofitting or installation of equipment.
The ADA thanked Reps. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI),Troy Balderson (R-OH), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and John Joyce (R-PA) for introducing the bill and told the legislators in a letter that the bill would provide a much-needed tax credit for dentists.
The costs of implementing new infection control procedures such as purchasing PPE are having a considerable economic impact on these practices during the reopening process, according to ADA President Chad Gehani, DDS, and Executive Director Kathleen O'Loughlin, DMD. What's more, many dental benefits plans are not currently reimbursing dentists for the use of enhanced PPE, they said.
