On March 10, 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 and sent it to President Biden, which he signed and enacted on March 11, 2021. The bill passed through the budget reconciliation process, requiring a simple majority of votes in the Senate. It appropriates $1.9 trillion in funds to address economic and health issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights of the bill include a third round of direct stimulus payments to qualifying Americans, an extension through September 6 of federal unemployment benefits, recovery fund allotments for states and local governments, additional funds for the Paycheck Protection Program, and an expansion of the child tax credit. Sellers Dorsey has summarized the provisions in ARPA which we have identified as having a specific impact on health care and human services providers, payers, and other stakeholders. Read the full analysis here.
