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Public Comment: A significant number of commenters expressed uncertainty regarding <br />the process for determining eligibility for disproportionately impacted communities beyond <br />QCTs. A commenter noted that a clearer definition of "disproportionately impacted" should be <br />delineated and that any definition should include communities of color and people of limited <br />means. Some commenters suggested a template or checklist to see if an area meets the standard <br />for disproportionately impacted communities outside of QCTs. Some commenters stated that <br />QCT and non-QCT beneficiaries should be treated the same. <br />Treasury Response: Under the interim final rule, presuming eligibility for services in <br />QCTs, for populations living in QCTs, and for Tribal governments was intended to ease <br />administrative burden, providing a simple path for recipients to offer services in underserved <br />communities, and is not an exhaustive list of disproportionately impacted communities. To <br />further clarify, the final rule codifies the interpretive framework discussed above, including <br />presumptions of groups disproportionately impacted, as well as the ability to identify other <br />disproportionately impacted populations, households, or geographies (referred to here as <br />disproportionately impacted classes). <br />As discussed in the interim final rule, in identifying other disproportionately impacted <br />classes, recipients should be able to support their determination that the pandemic resulted in <br />disproportionate public health or economic outcomes to the specific populations, households, or <br />geographic areas to be served. For example, the interim final rule considered data regarding the <br />rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths in low-income and socially vulnerable communities, <br />noting that these communities have experienced the most severe health impacts, compared to <br />national averages. Similarly, the interim final rule considered the high concentration of low- <br />income workers performing essential work, the reduced ability to socially distance, and other <br />44 <br />