COVID-19 UPDATE
March 26, 2020
We know that these past few weeks have been filled with uncertainty and have challenged us all in unprecedented ways. This disruption is certainly hard to cope with in some areas of life. We are a problem-solving community and this mindset is both powerful and necessary in times like these and shows how resilient we are, and will continue to be, in the days and weeks ahead.

We know you have a lot of questions about how to manage the financial and staffing aspects of your practice(s). We want to provide you with available resources and updated information – and to remind members that this is such a fluid situation that changes hourly. 

  • The California Franchise Tax Board has extended state tax filing and payment deadlines until July 15. Federal taxes also don’t have to be filed until July 15.


  • The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is also offering low interest disaster loans up to $2 million for small businesses, non-profits and landlords. With the stimulus package, these loans may be forgiven, so we suggest that you file for these as soon as possible. Visit: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
  • Likely due to enormous demand, the link to the SBA site is working sporadically. We have found a possible workaround. Go to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ and hit the middle circle that says apply online. This appears to allow applicants through.

  • Deferral of SF Business Taxes and Licensing Fees – SF is deferring payment of quarterly business taxes due April 30, 2020 until February 2021 with no interest or penalties and deferring annual small business and permit fees that make up the Unified License Bill for 3 months.

  • Relief for Businesses and Workers through OEWD:
  • Emergency grants to Microbusinesses of up to $10,000 administered through Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). 
  • OEWD will assist SF-based small businesses with accessing the low-interest federal SBA disaster loans referred to above, and to learn about other low-interest loan products.
  • $10 Million Workers and Families First Program to provide an additional week of paid sick leave coverage for up to 25,000 private sector employees

  • SF ordered a moratorium prohibiting residential and commercial evictions. The moratorium will prevent a small to medium sized business from being evicted due to a loss of income or other economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

  • ADA - The CARES Act: Two Free Webinars Streaming LIVE Tomorrow, March 27
  • 11 a.m. CT – Noon CT (9 AM Pacific) What’s in the CARES Act and How It Can Immediately Impact My Dental Practice: Senior Vice President of ADA Government and Public Affairs Mike Graham will walk participants through the provisions in the recently enacted CARES Act and its impact on dentists and their practices. Allen Schiff, CPA, will then explain how a provision in the Act allows those who apply for small business loans to access grant money on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be time at the end of the session to address questions submitted through the chat feature. Pending 1 CERP CE credit for attendees who stay logged in for at least 45 minutes. Please note: Due to system restraints, this webinar is limited to 3,000 simultaneous attendees. An on-demand version will be live on ADA.org within 48 business hours of the live discussion. Regrettably this webinar is full, but when the link to the on-demand recording becomes available, we will share it.

  • 2 p.m. CT – 3:30 p.m. CT (90 minutes) (Noon Pacific): Dental Practice Financial Issues Surrounding COVID-19: Dental practices are shut or just seeing emergency cases. While you understand why, you worry about the how—how your business is going to survive when patients and money aren’t coming in. Allen Schiff, CPA, will discuss how to identify what financial items should be on your financial checklists, understand how The CARES Act impacts dentists and identify what should be communicated to your teams during this absence from work. 1 CERP CE credit for attendees who stay logged in for at least 45 minutes. Please note: Due to system restraints, this webinar is limited to 3,000 simultaneous attendees. An on-demand version will be live on ADA.org within 48 business hours of the live discussion. Register for the 2 p.m. webinar. 

  • Related to these regulatory changes, employers have a new required posting they must provide by April 2, 2020 and we have included it here.

  • Employment law attorney, Jeanine D. DeBacker of McPharlin Sprinkles & Thomas LLP has a blog that answers many Department of Labor related questions https://calemploymentlawblog.com

  • FREE WEBINAR Friday, Mar 27, 2020 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (PDT) 
  • Financial Planning for Dental Practice Owners Through COVID-19, with Wes Read, CPA
  • Explaining unemployment, sick, and medical leave laws related to C19, and how they relate to dental practices
  • Prefacing the new CARES bill that is forthcoming and how it relates to dentists
  • Conserving cash to sustain your practice during this time
  • Using your downtime to strengthen your practice and prepare for a successful resumption of Operations
  • A Question and Answer session will conclude the webinar
  • To join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/419449317 
  • You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (646) 749-3122 
  • Access Code: 419-449-317 
  • New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/419449317

  • CDA offered a Webinar on COVID-19 and Best Practices for the Dental Team. This webinar, originally recorded on March 20, addresses some of the most frequently asked questions posed by CDA members related to managing their dental team as the result of COVID-19 practice interruptions. To view the webinar, please click on this link.

  • The ADA has compiled a number of resources and video presentations for members: Updates to the COVID-19 Resources for Dentists are happening on a regular basis, sometimes daily. Please be sure to check out the new additions within the last few days that may assist your practice or safety questions. The following documents are purposely not hyperlinked to ensure you are always viewing the most current version found on the resources web page. 
  • Dentists Guide to Emergency Procedures
  • Patients Guide to Emergency Procedures
  • Sample letter to patients
  • Employment Agreements
  • OSHA Guidance Summary: Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Coding and Billing Guidance
  • The ADA Code of Ethics and COVID-19
  • ADA and OSAP Webinar
  • JADA Infection Control Resources

 

This is not a time for Business as Usual. We cannot stress enough the risks to your own health, the health of your patients and the health and welfare of your dental team-members. While we want to do our part to take care of those dental emergencies that SFDS President Nogueiro shared in his Monday message, it is also important to limit your practices accordingly and to follow the strictest infection control guidelines, using enhanced PPE. Assume anyone can be a carrier of the virus and treat according. 

As a respite from the anxiety and stress, Happiness Guru Gretchen Rubin is hosting a daily Instagram live conversation on: Coping with COVID-19 Conversations. Also, she has a Happiness Podcast at gretchenrubin.com.

If we can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at exec@sfds.org , Rachel at membership@sfds.org or a member of the SFDS Leadership. Also, please visit our Coronavirus (COVID-29) Update Resources page.
Deborah Elam, MS, CAE
Executive Director, San Francisco Dental Society 
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