The Fiscal Times: "Nationally, the number of Medicaid beneficiaries has risen by 8 percent a year since 2008, and 44 states have reported that they will exceed their enrollment and spending growth projections this year, the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured reported. A dozen other states, including Arizona, Utah, Wisconsin and Maryland, have experienced double-digit annual enrollment increases." California and New York have experienced growth rates of 24 percent and 16 percent, respectively. "All of this is set against the backdrop of severe budget deficits in most states, most of which are required to balance their budgets. Cumulative state budget shortfalls for 2010 and 2011 are estimated at $350 billion, which has prompted unprecedented cuts averaging 12 percent since 2008" (Yarrow, 9/8).