America is finally getting back to work, but the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are not fully behind us. This crisis has shown us all how vulnerable our organizations can be to a public health emergency – and really, any emergency that may impact our business operations. Luckily, there are resources available to help us all, both now and in the future. 

Healthcare Provider Relief Fund

The CARES Act has set aside $100 billion in COVID-19 emergency relief funding for healthcare organizations, with $50 billion of that going to Medicare providers specifically. Funding comes in the form of grants, but organizations could be forced to repay if they don’t meet certain terms and conditions of the grant. Admittedly there is some confusion over the rules for receiving and utilizing this funding offered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), but HHS has improved its communication of the program recently. 

Businesses can also take advantage of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and the Paycheck Protection Program. The funds can be used to pay debts, payroll, utilities, mortgage interest, payables and other operating costs for impacted small businesses.

Internal Revenue Service

The IRS has announced a host of new employer tax credits including the Employee Retention Credit and the Credit for Sick and Family Leave related to the coronavirus. And, with an extension of tax filings for most taxpayers, you have more time to make sense of these new credits and get everything in order.

SCORE Counselors and SBDC

Both SCORE and the Small Business Development Centers are affiliated with the SBA and provide business consultation at no cost to you along with other business resources. These organizations have been providing guidance for years, and it’ll cost you nothing to reach out to them if you have any concerns about navigating our coronavirus economy moving forward. 

Other Funding Sources

Outside of the federal government, there are also places you can look for relief. These include banks, nonprofits and even tech companies, in which the latter are giving out free – or significantly reduced – licenses to companies that need this technology to manage their drastically different business structures. 

State and Local Governments

Since state and local governments have really led the charge in responding to the pandemic and setting the guidelines for how communities should respond, they are a great place to look for both public health updates and business resources. Local chambers of commerce and business communities are also working to provide information on resources, webinars, FAQs, updates and legal support. 

We Can’t Wait to Get Back on the Road Again

Across the country, employers have begun to see a return to normalcy. Home healthcare providers are returning to their routines of in-home visits, and patients are beginning to receive care once more. These healthcare workers – along with many different kinds of employees who make home visits as part of their jobs – are paramount to keeping vulnerable populations safe at home, preventing hospital systems from becoming overwhelmed with patients and ensuring we all are able to return to our regular everyday routines. 

To help these workers get back on the road, and their employers to manage the responsibilities of tracking and reimbursing mileage expenses, CompanyMileage provides a simple solution for everyone. Our easy-to-use mobile app provides point-to-point trip calculations, automates expense reporting and makes approving reimbursements a breeze thanks to integration with your accounting system. 

As you’re reviewing your needs and the resources available to you, be sure to check out CompanyMileage’s powerful mileage reimbursement software and learn how you can save 20-30% on reimbursement costs.