Many people who have not dealt with this program are unaware of the problems, including hospitals dumping elderly and sick people as soon as the approved time for their stay is up, regardless of how sick they are or whether there is someone to care for them at home. This is done because the hospitals cannot afford to keep people for free, and Medicare will not pay for extra days.
Plus, seven years ago when my dad was sick, there wasn't even a local office to complain to...you had to call Illinois long distance on your own dime (and you know how many older people are afraid to use long distance because of the expense) and then talk to a barely intelligible, rude, bureaucrat to try and get a problem resolved.
I would like to see Senator Frist establish an investigatory commission on this whole situation.
You are right -- that is exactly what should happen. Time the facts were put out and something done instead of the scare tactics each election and nothing gets accomplished.
The SS office in Columbus used to put a balloon on someone's desk when they turned down a claim as well. I would love to see the entire system revamped.