I.e., not the dishonest analysis the Republican Party is currently providing:
The Star’s editorial | Needed: Honest analysis of Medicaid expansion in Missouri, Kansas: In the Republican-controlled capitals of Kansas and Missouri, where “Obamacare” is about as welcome as a flu epidemic, leading politicians are loath to consider an expansion [of Medicaid]…. [But] they owe it to constituents to obtain a thorough and honest analysis of the impact. Some preliminary studies indicate states may come out ahead financially…. A free-market group, the Kansas Policy Institute, calculated that 253,000 additional Kansans would receive Medicaid if the limits were expanded. Schrammraleigh Health Strategy, an actuarial firm commissioned by the former Kansas Health Policy Authority, came up with a much lower number: 121,000. What’s certain is that expanded limits would help large numbers of people, especially in Missouri, where adults can earn no more than 19 percent of the federal poverty level to qualify for Medicaid. In Kansas, the limit is 26 percent of the federal poverty level.
The Affordable Care Act calls for the federal government to pick up the full costs of the expanded Medicaid programs for three years, beginning in 2014. After that, Washington would pay for 90 percent of the expansion. Opponents in both states say even picking up their 10 percent share would be too burdensome. But that assertion is premature without taking into account other factors…. The Affordable Care Act calls for a phaseout of payments the federal government gives to states to help hospitals that serve significant numbers of low-income, uninsured patients. Missouri hospitals collectively received almost $800 million this year. Loss of that money, without more patients gaining insurance, would be disastrous for the budgets of hospitals and entire communities. Expanding Medicaid limits would extend coverage to many low-income people who receive state mental health services, relieving states of that cost. Missouri and Kansas currently pay health care costs for disabled populations…. Most of them would be Medicaid-eligible under the new limits. An expansion of Medicaid would bring millions of dollars into both states for hospitals, clinics and health professionals….
Missouri and Kansas have the opportunity to offer thousands of residents the security of a medical home and care when they need it. The alternative is to leave those people in a medical doughnut hole, unable to access services that are available to people with incomes above and below theirs. Under no scenario would that be healthy.
