News
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August / September 2020 Edition
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COVID-19 Stimulus Package Talks Continue Negotiations between the White House and leaders of both parties in the House and Senate on the next COVID-19 stimulus package are at a standstill. Negotiators are deeply divided on several issues, such as unemployment assistance, aid to state and local governments, and the overall price tag of the package. The House passed a $3.5 trillion rescue package (the HEROES Act, H.R. 6800) in May, but the Senate has not taken up that bill. Last week, Republicans in the Senate introduced a “skinny” coronavirus relief bill (the HEALS Act, S. 1624), which includes elements of the larger July Senate GOP proposal. Both the House and Senate have recessed until September; although the House briefly returned on Aug. 22, talks remain stalled. Given the number of proposals still on the table, a deal is seen as unlikely this month barring a significant breakthrough on stimulus talks and an agreement on how to fund the government through the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. NADP will continue to monitor stimulus talks and push for an overall and dental-specific Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase and COBRA premium subsidization in the next COVID-19 relief package. |
