Outlined in the report into future years
In the coming year, Kansas has the opportunity to revisit this issue, which could lead to implementation of KanCare expansion by 2016. Such an expansion could enable approximately 100,000 low-income Kansas adults to gain coverage in 2016, and 144,000 by 2017. Deciding again not to expand KanCare would extend the negative consequences outlined in the report into future years:
• Kansas is losing approximately $334 million in federal funding in 2014 and more than $380 million in 2015, compared to the amounts it would have earned had it expanded KanCare.
• Expansion would have created more than 3,000 jobs statewide in 2014 and beyond.
• Kansas is losing more than $6 million in potential state tax revenue in 2014 because the total economy (as measured by gross state product) is approximately $220 million smaller than it would have been if KanCare had been expanded.
The report clearly demonstrates the economic benefits of KanCare expansion. About half of the jobs created would be in health care, but the other half would be in diverse sectors, including construction; retail and wholesale; professional, scientific and technical; and food and beverage. Although KanCare expansion increases funding for health care, the benefits spread broadly as health care providers purchase additional goods and services and use their income to pay their mortgages, buy groceries and make consumer purchases that broadly impact the state’s economy.
“KanCare expansion would stimulate economic growth and job creation in Kansas,” said Tom Bell, president and CEO of the Kansas Hospital Association. “In addition, more than 100,000 low-income Kansans would have access to health care in a more appropriate setting than the hospital emergency department.”