The expansion of Medicaid in Kansas could result in $1.8 billion in increased economic output.
That was the message that Jim Zaleski, city of Parsons economic development director, brought back from a luncheon in Topeka sponsored by the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas. The event was titled “The Business Case for KanCare Expansion.” KanCare is the state’s Medicaid program. The meeting featured David Toland, Kansas secretary of commerce.
Under the Affordable Care Act, states can expand their Medicaid systems to cover adults with incomes of up to 138% of the federal poverty level. During former Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration, the state avoided expansion and the billions in federal funds it would bring, but Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning reached a compromise last week that could lead to expansion.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)