House Vote Scheduled today on HEROES Act

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote later today on the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act “HEROES Act” (H.R. 6800). The HEROES Act is the House Democratic proposal for the latest legislative effort on economic relief related to COVID-19. The House is expected to pass the HEROES Act along party lines with the Senate developing its own legislative proposal with consideration in the coming weeks.

The HEROES Act contains numerous provisions of interest to ground ambulance service providers and suppliers. For a comprehensive summary of those provisions, please click HERE.

Here are a few of the highlights:

$100 Billion for Health Care Fund

• $100 billion in additional funding for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. This is the Fund under which ground ambulance service providers and suppliers have received direct payments to partially offset lost revenue as well as eligibility for grant funds to cover the cost of treating uninsured presumptive and actual COVID-19 patients. The bill would also set forth a methodology for the distribution of the new funds and all previously unallocated funds, based on the lost revenue and expenses of a provider or supplier. The AAA continues to advocate for a program under the Fund specifically for ground ambulance services.

Employee Retention Tax Credit Improvements

• Increases the retention credit from 50% to 80% and the wage cap from $10,000 to $15,000 per quarter. The bill would also change the definition of a large employer from organizations with over 100 employees to those with over 1,500 employees. The Employee Retention Tax Credit is intended for companies not eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program and allows employers to offset employment taxes, with any excess treated as refundable tax credits.

Payroll Protection Program

• Eliminates the limitation for employers to take advantage of the payroll tax deferral period to the extent they qualified for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program or the U.S. Treasury Program Management Authority.

$500 Tax Credit for First Responders and Frontline Employees

• Provides a $500 above the line deduction for 2020 for the uniforms, supplies, and equipment of governmental and non-governmental first responders and COVID19 frontline employees.

The AAA has already turned its sights on the Senate as we continue to advocate for ground ambulance service providers and suppliers in our vital role as frontline medical responders in combating COVID-19.