Update: Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association CEO Jared Kosin wrote to the Journal via email that the organization recieved a letter from federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services officials that addresses many of the concerns ASHNHA member organizations had about pandemic response operations without a formal state emergency declaration. However, the health care group still "wholeheartedly" supports the Legislature's passage of House Bill 76, the public health emergency legislation lawmakers are debating to mitigate the regualtory amibuity and unintended consequences caused by the current situation, according to Kosin. Original story: Alaska business, health care and local government leaders are urging lawmakers to renew the state’s COVID-19 disaster declaration to support social and economic recovery from the pandemic as much as public health needs.