Senate Passes The COVID-19 3.5 Emergency Relief Bill

Published in Member Communities on April 21, 2020

This afternoon, the Senate passed, by unanimous consent, the $484 billion agreement to deliver more pandemic aid to small businesses and hospitals in addition to federal, state, and local coronavirus testing. The House is expected to return Thursday for an in-person vote.

The measure — originally meant to serve as an “interim” small business fix before lawmakers embarked on negotiations for another trillion-dollar-plus relief package — will provide $350 billion for the depleted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), according to a summary of the legislation. Click here to see the full bill language. Separately, the bill increases the authorization level for the program by $310 billion.

Specifics:

  • $310 billion unrestricted for PPP
  • $60 billion in PPP set aside for smaller institutions (banks and credit unions)
    • $30 billion for assets less than $10 billion
    • $30 billion for assets between $10 billion and $50 billion
  • $50 billion for EIDL loans
  • $10 billion for EIDL Advance grants 
  • $2.1 billion for SBA administrative expenses

Health

  • $75B for hospitals (same language as PHSSEF from CARES)
  • $25B for testing [$11B of this will be distributed to states; the rest will go to CDC, BARDA, FQHC, NIH, NCI (they are doing the serology work), and others for research, development, and deployment of testing.]

This is great news for DMEPOS suppliers as it means additional funding availabilities. We’ve heard from many of you that have not received PPP funding from your bank. If you haven’t received any PPP dollars yet, it is recommended that you reach out to your credit union or bank this week to ensure you are first in line to receive these dollars. 

From Our Experts

CMS Proposed Rule: What It Means To O&P Providers thumbnail CMS Proposed Rule: What It Means To O&P Providers Watch this update from VGM's Melanie Ewald, VP of Payer Relations and Reimbursement, on the potential impact of the CMS proposed rule on O&P providers. Ronda's Reflections: Four Hot Topics Affecting the DME Industry thumbnail Ronda's Reflections: Four Hot Topics Affecting the DME Industry Read about upcoming NCD implementations, oxygen equipment audits, lymphedema compression garment compliance, and PTAN billing tips. A Letter from the President: Planning with Purpose thumbnail A Letter from the President: Planning with Purpose As we turn the calendar to October, I imagine many of you are taking a deep breath, looking at what's left of 2025, and asking, “How do we finish strong?” Boosting ROI with Effective Home Medical Equipment (HME) Training thumbnail Boosting ROI with Effective Home Medical Equipment (HME) Training Maximize ROI in home medical equipment (HME) with strategic training programs that enhance compliance, customer satisfaction, and streamline operations. Steve Cranna of VGM Canada Announces Retirement thumbnail Steve Cranna of VGM Canada Announces Retirement Steve Cranna of VGM Canada has announced his retirement as Director of Government Relations and New Business Development at the end of September 2025. Jeff Kessler Named New Director of OPGA thumbnail Jeff Kessler Named New Director of OPGA OPGA is proud to announce that Jeff Kessler will be the director of OPGA effective October 1, 2025. The Impact of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Managing Diabetes thumbnail The Impact of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Managing Diabetes Discover how continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is revolutionizing diabetes care & its benefits of real-time data, trend tracking, & improved health outcomes. O&P Advocacy in Action in Indiana thumbnail O&P Advocacy in Action in Indiana Learn how dedicated O&P professionals in Indiana are shaping orthotic legislation and improving patient care in prosthetics & orthotics.