Study Finds Significant Economic Activity Resulting From Potential Medicaid Expansion in Georgia
Analysis of Medicaid expansion indicates that additional spending could result in more than 70,000 statewide jobs and annual state and local tax revenues of $276.5 million
Healthcare Georgia Foundation announced the results of a
study it commissioned on the economic impact of Medicaid expansion in Georgia. The analysis, conducted and reported by William Custer, PhD, J. Mack Robinson College of Business atGeorgia State University, found that expansion of the program could result in significant statewide economic activity.
Dr. Custer utilized the IMPLAN model to produce estimates of economic impact based on data publicly available data, including: 1) the number of new enrollees in the Medicaid Program as a result of expansion; 2) the costs of medical carefor those enrollees; and, 3) the state's share of Medicaid
expansion.
"As a statewide funder of Georgia's health safety net, the
Foundation's efforts are focused on expanding access to affordable quality healthcare for underserved individuals and communities," said Healthcare Georgia Foundation president, Gary D. Nelson, PhD. "In order to achieve the optimal use of our resources, it is important to understand the health and economic impact of policy decisions on underserved and uninsured populations."
Medicaid expansion not only benefits the health and well being of those enrolled, this analysis suggests it contributes significantly to economic activity that results in the growth of jobs (most notably in the health sector) and much needed state and local tax revenue. Should the state choose to expand, it is estimated
that Georgia would receive an additional $40 billion dollars in Federal funds over the next 10 years.
