Every year, AMDA issues dozens of positions on national policy issues. The AMDA Public Policy Committee provides the foundation for those comments, identifying issues of concern to the association and working with the Board of Directors and House of Delegates. Over the past 2 years, the committee has reviewed various revisions to the State Operations Manual, Guidance to State Surveyors. Members also have served on the technical expert panels that drafted the revisions. In addition, the group reviews legislation, participates in coalitions, and makes recommendations on whether to support other associations' position statements. Issues range from efforts to reverse the physician payment cuts, to the reinstatement of federal funding for Title VII/geriatric education, to seeking medical liability reform. Fact sheets highlighting salient bills can be downloaded from the AMDA's advocacy Web site at http://www.amda.com/advocacy/legal/federal.cfm. The public policy committee also may be asked to review pending resolutions before they are submitted to the House of Delegates. This fall, the committee provided feedback on an AMDA work group's proposed resolution on performance review. The resolution, likely to be submitted to the House of Delegates in 2007, proposes performance review to be conducted under the auspices of the Medicare Quality Assessment and Assurance process for all attending physicians caring for LTCresidents. Most work is done via phone and e-mail, but visits to the Hill, CMS, or various national coalitions sometimes require member involvement. “It is my privilege to chair AMDA's Public Policy Committee,” said Dr. Daniel L. Swagerty Jr., M.P.H., CMD. “Through the hard work of the AMDA staff and physician volunteers, this committee makes it possible for the unique perspective of the long-term care physician to be heard. Drawing on the expertise of the AMDA membership, the committee promotes quality long-term care through their efforts in the clinical, administrative, legal, and political arenas.” AMDA has invited state chapter presidents to submit nominations in an effort to increase overall input. Members of the association who are interested in working with the committee are encouraged to complete the online Committee Volunteer Opportunities form, which can be downloaded at http://www.amda.com/governance/volunteer.cfm, or call Kathleen Wilson, director of government affairs, at 410-740-9743.