Cynthia K. Morton, MPA, is a national expert on Medicaid, Medicare and other public policy affecting the long term and post-acute care sector. Currently, she serves as the Executive Vice President for the National Association for the Support of Long-Term Care (NASL), where she advocates for her members’ interests. NASL is the exclusive national trade association representing providers of both ancillary services and products to the long term and post-acute care sector. Prior to joining NASL, Cynthia served as the Vice President for Political Affairs for the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). In more than a decade with AHCA/NCAL, she represented the long-term care profession before the Washington healthcare community, media, and Congress. She also was responsible for lobbying, developing political strategy, and building relationships with members of Congress. She developed policy and positions primarily on Medicaid and related long-term care issues such as provider tax, intergovernmental transfers, dual eligibles, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID) and developmental disability issues. Previously, she served as the Special Assistant to the Director of the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (the Virginia Medicaid Agency), where she covered issues such as Medicaid managed care, long-term care, the children’s health insurance program, provider reimbursement rate setting, and strategic planning activities. In 2005 and 2006, Roll Call magazine named Cynthia as one of the leading long-term care lobbyists. Cynthia graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science in political science and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.