Safety net health systems are seeing more uninsured patients and higher-than-average uncompensated care costs in the economic recession, according to a survey released yesterday by the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems. "Our research shows that there is a substantially increased demand by the uninsured and enrollment in Medicaid, the health insurance program for low income Americans has also surged - in some states by more than 10% - while states continue to cut payments to providers for Medicaid services," said NAPH President Larry Gage. To help states avert these Medicaid cuts, the AHA and other organizations have urged congressional leaders to extend through June 2011 the temporary increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage provided to states by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.