(Columbia-AP) March 2, 2004 -- A group of state leaders say they will go to Washington on Wednesday to argue against changes in federal Medicaid rules. Governor Mark Sanford is leading a group that includes Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman and House Speaker David Wilkins.

Leatherman says much of the concern comes from matching funds the federal government pays hospitals to make up the difference between government payments and private insurance payments.

South Carolina put $113 million into the program this year while the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services put in an additional $262 million.

Posted 6:04pm by BrettWitt