The National Association of Health Underwriters has been keeping informed about COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Below are links to updates on legislation, regulation and guidance on both the federal and state levels in response to COVID-19. Please visit the Coronavirus Information section of the NAHU website for more resources.  
 
The NAHU COVID-19 Relief Fund has been created to provide financial support to NAHU members and their families that have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial support could provide monetary assistance with out of pocket medical expenses, unanticipated funeral expenses, or other special circumstance COVID-19 related expenses for members in good standing and their legal dependents.
 
If you or fellow member has been impacted and you would like to apply for assistance, please click here. If you are in a position to make a contribution to help support your fellow NAHU member, we ask that you please donate here. These contributions are tax-deductible.
 
Congress
  • Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) stated that, in the coming weeks, Congress will make a decision on whether to pass "a fourth and final bill." He noted the next coronavirus aid package will focus on jobs and schools, and possibly include funding for small businesses and healthcare.
  • The House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, by a vote of 417-1. The bill now heads to the Senate, where the legislation is largely similar, with the exception that it extends the window small businesses have to use funds to 16 weeks instead of 24.
  • Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) released CARES Act Pre-Paid Debit Cards FAQ.
  • Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a bill to protect recovery payments provided in the CARES Act legislation.
  • Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D_NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Patty Murray (D-WA) released a Senate Democratic plan to expand health care coverage and affordability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) introduced the Endless Frontier Act, which would bolster U.S. leadership in science and technology innovation.
  • Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced the Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act (GHSDA) to better detect, deter, and contain infectious disease outbreaks overseas before they become global pandemics.
  • Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Donna Shalala (D-FL) introduced the Protecting the Health of America's Older Adults During COVID-19 and Beyond Act, which would establish a National COVID-19 Resource Center for Older Adults under the leadership of the Secretary of HHS and create the Healthy Aging grant program at the CDC.
  • Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) introduced two pieces of legislation to increase diagnostic testing capabilities at public health laboratories and expand testing access to hospitals, physicians and other health service providers, especially in rural and underserved areas.
  • Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) introduced the Right to Test Act, legislation that will allow individual states to approve and distribute diagnostic tests when the state or federal government has declared a public health emergency.
  • Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020.
  • Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Don Young (R-AK) introduced the Rural Hospital Sustainability Act to provide financial stability to struggling rural hospitals, and maintain access to quality health care for rural Americans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Representatives Tim Ryan (D-OH) and John Katko (R-NY) as well as Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation directing the Secretary of HHS to award grants to establish a Coronavirus Mental Health and Addiction Assistance Network.
  • Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Donna Shalala (D-FL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Seth Moulton (D-MA) introduced legislation to provide $20 billion to help states, nursing homes, and intermediate care facilities contain the spread of COVID-19 to protect residents and staff.
 
Administration 
  • NAHU submitted a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) last week in regards to recent COVID-19 guidance, including emergency final regulation regarding the COBRA-election period. 
  • President Trump stated the U.S. is "terminating [its] relationship with the World Health Organization" as of today and redirecting funds to other organizations responsible for global health.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its first report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, outlining how the Trump administration spent the $100 billion provider relief fund, allocated through the CARES Act; between March 27 to April 30.
  • The Small Business Administration (SBA) released an interim final rule on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness.
  • The SBA released an interim final rule on SBA Loan Review Procedures and Related Borrower and Lender Responsibilities.
  • The Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the agencies will set aside $10 billion of Round 2 funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to be lent exclusively by Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs).
  • The IRS pushed back its deadline for employer pension plans seeking a waiver of their minimum funding requirements.
  • The IRS and the Treasury Department issued final regulations clarifying the reporting requirements generally applicable to tax-exempt organizations.
  • The IRS and Treasury Department issued a proposed regulation updating the federal income tax withholding rules for periodic retirement and annuity payments made after December 31, 2020.
  • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released interim guidelines for COVID-19 antibody testing
 
States
  • The White House released a readout from the Governor's Briefing on COVID-19 Response and Re-Opening Efforts.
  • The Treasury Department and IRS released updated state-by-state figures for Economic Impact Payments.
  • Track where all 50 states stand on reopening here.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released resources to assist states to reopen.
  • CMS has approved over 200 requests for state relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including recent approvals for Alaska, Iowa, Hawaii, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, and Virginia.
Webinar
  • In the latest installment of our COVID-19 webinar series, Compliance Corner members Annette Bechtold and Jennifer Berman went into detail about Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness, including all the latest guidance and what you and your clients need to know. Watch here.
  • In next week's installment of our COVID-19 webinar series, Compliance Corner member Barbara Gerken and Principal at Forward Health Consulting Jessica Waltman will review the recent guidance from the EBSA and the IRS. Register here.