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.

A judge rejected a request from the New Hampshire Retirement System on Thursday to immediately block implementation of part of a new pension overhaul law but has set an October hearing on the case.

The public New Hampshire Retirement System asked a court Tuesday to block implementation of the part of a new pension reform law dealing with setting employer contribution rates.

Public employees will pay more toward their pensions and some will work longer before retiring to spare New Hampshire taxpayers under legislation headed to Gov. John Lynch for signature.

New Hampshire House and Senate negotiators reached a tentative agreement on reforms to the state's public pension system on Monday that will shift more of the costs onto employees.