COVID-19 Update: March 27, 2020

March 27, 2020 | Issue 8

Governor Suspends Non-Emergent Dental Procedures

During her press conference yesterday, Governor Kim Reynolds announced the signing of a new proclamation suspending elective and nonessential dental procedures beginning at 5:00 PM on Friday, March 27 through 11:59 PM on April 16. The proclamation allows the governor the right to terminate this proclamation earlier or extend it.

The Iowa Dental Board has placed the following statement on their website to offer clarity: "If the proclamation expires as scheduled, this means routine patient care can resume on April 17 . There are some business closures in the proclamation that extend through April 7, 2020. Please note this is separate from the timeline for nonessential medical and dental services."

The proclamation allows dentists to continue to treat dental emergencies. We ask that dentists continue to treat dental emergencies locally to minimize the number of patients seeking treatment within hospital emergency rooms and to not overburden the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.

For more information please refer to the press release issued by the Iowa Dental Board last evening.

Updated Information: CARES Act Webinars

The ADA has issued updated information regarding the webinars focused on the CARES Act. Two webinars are being offered today. Please note the webinars are limited to 3,000 simultaneous attendees each; however, on-demand versions will be available on the ADA website early next week.

2:00 - 3:30 PM - Dental Practice Financial Issues Surrounding COVID-19

Allen Schiff, CPA, will:

Discuss how to put together financial checklists.
Help you to better understand how the CARES Act impacts dentists.
Explain what to tell your team during this absence of work.

4:00 - 5:00 PM - What's in the CARES Act and How It Can Immediately Impact My Dental Practice

ADA Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Mike Graham will discuss the CARES Act and its impact on dentists and practices. Allen Schiff, CPA, will explain how the Act allows small business loan applicants to get grant money on a first-come, first-served basis.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans – IDA Members Encouraged to Apply ASAP

There are a number of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans available to dentist owners. One loan, in particular, is the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, which establishes an emergency grant to allow a dental practice that applies for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan to receive an advance on that loan of no more than $10,000, which the Small Business Administration must distribute within three days. The money may be used to pay for employees’ COVID-19-related sick leave, mortgage or rent, and other overhead expenses. The grants would be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the $10 billion fund is exhausted, and applicants would not have to repay the money even if they are denied the loan . Visit the SBA website to access the application.

Donate PPE

Over 60 dentists have donated PPE including more than 8,000 masks and 337 boxes of gloves. IDA has received reports that some members are sewing masks to assist their communities in addition to donating PPE.

This outstanding show of support for the medical community is overwhelming. Each day we continue to hear the need for personal protective equipment (PPE). If you have PPE that you are able and willing to donate please complete the donation form.

If you donated directly to the facilities, please contact IDA with a list of the items donated and the name of the facility donated to. IDA is tracking the amount of PPE donated by Iowa dentists. Thank you to everyone who has generously donated PPE to assist with the national shortage!

Follow us on Facebook to view pictures that dentists have submitted delivering donations and be sure to tag us in your donation posts. Today's picture is from Drs. Maureen Winslow and Donna Grant with Norwalk Family Dentistry in Norwalk, who donated masks to Norwalk Fire and EMS staff.

Thank you to the dentists who have donated or volunteered to donate PPE:

Dr. Fariha Baig, Des Moines
Dr. Dawn Gaffney, Mount Vernon
Dr. Donna Grant, Norwalk
Dr. Justin Hampton, Ames
Dr. Cody Kriegel, North Liberty
Dr. Chris Myers, Ankeny
Dr. Brandon Peterson, West Des Moines
Dr. Julie A. Smith, Ankeny
Dr. Julie Statz, West Des Moines
Dr. Thomas Statz, West Des Moines
Dr. Sara Stuefen, Vinton
Dr. J. German Wahle, Cedar Rapids
Dr. Maureen Winslow, Norwalk

I AM WILLING TO DONATE

Latest Information from Governor Kim Reynolds

Governor Reynolds is currently conducting daily press conferences at 2:30 PM. Those press conferences may be viewed live on Facebook.

The governor issues daily press releases regarding the status of COVID-19's effect on Iowans. Click here to access the most recent press release.

Interested individuals are encouraged to register as a willing and able volunteer through the Iowa Statewide Emergency Registry of Volunteers (i-SERV) – the Iowa Department of Public Health's secure online registry for individuals wishing to volunteer in the event of a large-scale disaster or public health emergency. Volunteers maintain the option to accept or decline any opportunity. Due to the Governor’s Public Health Disaster Emergency Declaration, individuals who volunteer to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic are granted liability immunity for their service. Volunteering for this disaster response will not impact unemployment benefits for those who are receiving them as a result of their clinic temporarily shutting down.