CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Ten hospitals sued New Hampshire in federal court Monday over the state's payments to them for caring for Medicaid patients, claiming the inadequate reimbursement is jeopardizing the poor's access to health care.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, claims the state is violating the federal Medicaid Act by providing insufficient payment to them and their doctors to treat Medicaid patients. Medicaid is the state-federal health care program for the poor.

The hospitals argue the state made deep cuts to their reimbursement for budgetary reasons, not out of consideration of what amount was needed to adequately cover the costs of treating Medicaid patients. As a result, several hospitals intend to close or are considering closing affiliated doctors' practices to new Medicaid patients while others are considering terminating their doctors' practices Medicaid contract with the state, the lawsuit said.