Until now, reimbursement rates have been based on 1986 data.

That figure was up from $180 million the year before, even though the reimbursement rate had gone down.

And while reimbursement rates increased over the years, we have never had quite enough.

Without such a fix, reimbursement rates are expected to decline by about 20 percent over four years.

Medicaid officials said they could use the data to set lower, more appropriate reimbursement rates.

In 2007, the reimbursement rate was 11 cents per mile.

Q. So they have to see twice as many patients because the reimbursement rate is cut in half?

Now, we're falling behind by hanging on to reimbursement rates that are more than 10 years old.

The report recommends raising reimbursement rates to $75 an hour.

Private insurers, which cover other patients, often follow the government's example and could be expected to lower their reimbursement rates as well.