State cuts to Medicaid affect patients, providers

ATLANTA — Just as Med­ic­aid pre­pares for a vast expan­sion under the fed­eral health care over­haul, the 47-year-old enti­tle­ment pro­gram for the poor is under increas­ing pres­sure as deficit-burdened states chip away at ben­e­fits and cut pay­ments to doctors.