Statement of J. Edward Hill, MD, immediate past president, AMA.

"This study highlights an access to care problem for millions of Americans. America's Medicaid patients deserve access to health care, but government cuts to the program make this increasingly difficult. According to the study, fewer physicians are able to treat Medicaid patients today than were able to ten years ago.

"This unsettling data comes as little surprise given Medicaid's high administrative costs and low payment rates, while the overhead costs associated with practicing medicine continue to increase.

"This study also serves as a reminder that our nation's Medicare program is at risk of going the way of Medicaid. More Medicare cuts on top of existing inadequate Medicare reimbursement rates threaten to reduce patient access to care.

"Medicare physician payments are scheduled to be cut 37 percent over the next nine years. If Congress does not stop next year's payment cut, 45 percent of physicians say they will be forced to decrease or stop taking new Medicare patients. The government must keep its promise to Americans who depend on government health care programs by appropriately funding Medicaid and Medicare.

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