the development of a federal framework to help standardize the requirements for the Resident's Bill of Rights and a Disclosure Statement.

Thank you very much for your very heartfelt testimony.

the states ought to have the regulatory authority to enact whatever action under state law that they deem appropriate to correct a particular activity.

So there were no assets to go after. There was only a $35,000 insurance policy?

Well, you do have the bully pulpit.

Isn't this the purpose of an ombudsman? We require an ombudsman.

Well, maybe we should have had that person here answering the questions. Why didn't they blow the whistle? Or why didn't they know? Is that the role of an ombudsman?

That's exactly the message that I've gotten here. I mean, I can't say it any better than you just said it.

Well, on the basis of what we've seen in this newspaper report, the regulatory agency in this case--AHCA in the state of Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration--wasn't doing its job.

As I mentioned, Senator Kohl's home state of Wisconsin is a shining example of a very good regulatory framework.

Well, aren't some things blurring now between nursing homes and ALFs?