COVID-19 stimulus package: What it means for veterinary professionals

For more information Phone: 847-285-6687 Cell: 847-732-6194
For immediate release:

(SCHAUMBURG, Illinois) April 2, 2020—Two extensive packages of legislation enacted in the past few weeks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic include many provisions that may be helpful to veterinarians, and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is developing resources to help veterinarians learn more about the expanded benefits and programs now available to them.

Veterinarians and veterinary health care professionals working in small business environments can benefit from several new or expanded benefits established in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This includes emergency medical leave, paid sick leave, expanded unemployment insurance, suspension of federal student loan payments and interest accrual, tax credits for small businesses, and new loan programs to assist small businesses, independent contractors and the self-employed who are coping with the financial impacts of COVID-19.

Federal agencies are moving quickly to implement the COVID-19 stimulus measures. The Treasury Department says lenders will be able to begin processing applications for forgivable small-business loans through the Paycheck Protection Program as early as this Friday, April 3, with approval possible the day of application. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has posted a sample loan application to help potential applicants.

To help veterinarians understand and access the new benefits and relief measures available to them, the AVMA has developed several resources available on AVMA's website, with more in development. This includes:

All of these are available on the AVMA's COVID-19 webpage, along with a wide range of other practical resources to help veterinarians and veterinary practices navigate the coronavirus pandemic.

The AVMA anticipates more clarification on these measures in the days and weeks ahead, and will be updating its resources as soon as possible with the latest information to help the profession through this difficult time. As always, the AVMA will continue our federal advocacy efforts to ensure that the needs of veterinarians and veterinary health care professionals are addressed in future measures, and that the collective voice of veterinary medicine is heard on Capitol Hill.

For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA senior media relations specialist, at 847-732-6194 (cell) or msanfilippoatavma [dot] org (msanfilippo[at]avma[dot]org).

About the AVMA

Serving more than 105,000 member veterinarians, the AVMA is the nation's leading representative of the veterinary profession, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, humans and the environment. Founded in 1863 and with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries, the AVMA is one of the largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Informed by our members' unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.