COLUMBIA - Two state senators have sent a letter to Gov. Mark Sanford, saying more time is needed to discuss major changes to South Carolina's Medicaid program.

Sens. Darrell Jackson and Joel Lourie say the proposals, first revealed last month, were made without serious consultation with Medicaid participants, health care providers or lawmakers.

"Imagine my shock to wake up one morning and read about all these changes in detail. It was very upsetting," Lourie, D-Columbia, said Wednesday.

There are some 30 proposed changes to the program, including reducing the eligibility age for children who get unlimited doctor visits and creating personal health accounts for adult clients.

The changes, called waivers, have been sent to the federal government to consider. Lourie and Jackson want the state Health and Human Services Department to withdraw the request until more discussion can take place.

Medicaid provides health care to 850,000 of the state's neediest residents.

Jackson, D-Hopkins, said he has spoken to several lawmakers from both parties who found out about the changes by reading newspapers.

"Let's just talk about these changes," Jackson said. "Maybe the governor's proposal isn't the best thing to do."

Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer said information about the changes has been out in the public, both when the preliminary proposals were released in October and in the governor's budget sent to lawmakers in January.

"Frankly, we're surprised they haven't given their input ... during the 10 months the information has been available," Sawyer said.

Other changes in Medicaid would include requiring children to join adults in making co-payments for some treatments.

The Health and Human Services Department said the changes are needed to stem a projected increase in the cost of the program, which saw spending by the state and federal government grow 50 percent to $4.2 billion in 2004 from 2000.