My partner of 22 years, Lene developed a seriously nasty disease called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or Complex Regional pain Syndrome. The sympathetic refers to the sympathetic nervous system. It is a feedback loop of pain, enduring long after the initail precipitating injury has healed. It is often caused by insufficient pain treatment, but everyone who endures agonizing pain has it for life. The medications she requires cost a stupid amount and she is on Soc Sec disablity making her eligble for Medicare D. As some may remember Medicare D is Bush II's unfunded, profit maximizing, so good it got John breaux a nice cushy job with Pharma (the lobby) good. We have pretty much discovered there is no one who has authority over the providers. No referee. Medicare says for-profit insurance companies are under the state insurance boards jurisdiction. The state people however, say that since Medicare is a Federal program it is not their job. Very clever you see. The appeals process has been outsourced to a private company Maximus, who were convicted of some kid of financial crime ( maybe they just settled but it was a decent size fine) provide "administrative "judges" who work for a private company. No one seems in charge. Do you think maybe Sen Breaux and Bush II designed it tht way? Privatize orfit and throw those who cost to the wolves.