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“Our social distancing efforts are the most important thing we can
do to protect our seniors and support our health care workers,”
said Governor JB Pritzker. “The fight against COVID-19 is a
scientific one: it requires the best that medicine, innovation and
statistics have to offer. But as we do all that we can to find a
cure, find treatments, and support our medical infrastructure, we
can’t forget the exceptional human costs of these mitigating
measures. We must do all that we can to address them.”
SALES TAX
DEFERRAL FOR BARS AND RESTAURANTS
To help
alleviate some of the unprecedented challenges facing bars and
restaurants due to COVID-19, Gov. Pritzker has directed the
Department of Revenue to defer sales tax payments for more than
24,000 small- and medium-sized bars and restaurants — accounting for
nearly 80% of all such entities statewide.
Under the
directive, eating and drinking establishments that incurred less
than $75,000 in sales tax liabilities last year will not be charged
penalties or interest on payments due in March, April or May made
late. The Department of Revenue estimates this will give relief to
nearly 80% of bars and restaurants in Illinois.
Penalties and
interest will be automatically waived; however, qualified taxpayers
must still file their sales tax return even if they are unable to
make a payment. Any taxpayers taking advantage of this relief will
be required to pay their sales tax liabilities due in March, April
and May in four installments starting on May 20 and extending
through August 20. For more information, please view IDOR’s
informational bulletin available at
tax.illinois.gov.
SBA
APPROVES SMALL BUSINESS LOANS IN ILLINOIS
Two days
after submitting documentation demonstrating the impact of COVID-19
on more than 3,000 businesses across the state, Gov. Pritzker
announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration has
approved the state’s eligibility for disaster assistance loans for
small businesses facing financial hardship in all 102 counties due
to COVID-19. Eligible businesses can apply for up to $2 million in
low-interest loans at: https://disasterloan.sba.gov
NEW
GROCERY STORE HOURS FOR OLDER RESIDENTS
After
convening the largest grocers and food manufacturers in the state
with the help of Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Gov.
Pritzker announced today that a growing coalition of grocery stores
statewide will set aside one or more hours of operation for older
residents to shop, before stores open to the general public.
Among the
grocers with new hours for elderly shoppers are Whole Foods and Shop
& Save in the Chicagoland area and Hy-Vee and Valli Produce
throughout Illinois.
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EXPANDING
HEALTH CARE SERVICES
Gov. Pritzker
announced today that his administration is implementing several
measures to remove regulatory barriers for health providers and
increase opportunity for patients as Illinoisans are urged to stay
home as much as possible during this time.
Through
emergency rules and an executive order, the Pritzker administration
has significantly relaxed rules around telemedicine for both
Medicaid and private insurers, allowing more providers to get
reimbursed for these services that allow patients more flexibility
and safety. For plans regulated by the Department of Insurance, the
executive order calls for providers to be reimbursed at the same
rate at which they are reimbursed for in-person visits and prohibits
private health insurers from imposing any cost-sharing for
in-network providers. For Medicaid, the emergency rules also require
providers to be reimbursed at the same rate at which they are
reimbursed for in-person visits.
The
Department of Healthcare and Family Services has filed an 1135
waiver with the federal government to remove administrative barriers
for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The
Pritzker administration is seeking to increase access to telehealth
and the number of health care providers that can screen patients,
allow 90-day prescription supplies without prior authorization and
early refills, as well as several other items that will increase
flexibility and provide additional resources.
The
Department of Human Services has also filed a federal waiver to ease
eligibility requirements for food assistance programs like SNAP and
WIC, which cover 1.8 million Illinoisans and 174,000 pregnant women
and parents of young children respectively.
ESSENTIAL
SERVICES WILL REMAIN
As rumors
continue to swirl, Gov. Pritzker assures Illinoisans that essential
services will always remain open, including but not limited to
grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations. As new information
becomes available, the Pritzker administration will continue to
communicate with the public and media in a timely and transparent
manner.
ILLINOISANS: STAY HOME
Social distancing is the paramount strategy for minimizing the
spread of COVID-19 in our communities. The Governor continues to
make tough calls to keep Illinoisans safe, including mandating that
events of 50 people or more be canceled, suspending dine-in
operations of bars and restaurants and temporarily closing public
and private K-12 schools. Public health officials continue to urge
Illinoisans to stay home as much as possible.
Those experiencing symptoms should call a health care provider who
will help arrange medical treatment without putting others at risk
of exposure.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has a statewide COVID-19
hotline and website to answer any questions from the public or to
report a suspected case: call 1-800-889-3931 or visit IDPH.illinois.gov.
[Text from file received from
Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |
