Study: Medicaid expansion would boost Mo. economy

An economic impact study performed by the Missouri Research and Information Center shows a significant boost for the Show-Me State economy should legislators approve Medicaid expansion.

According to the analysis, the expansion of Medicaid eligibility for adults earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level would result in the creation of 23,868 jobs, $9.9 billion in new wages and $14.6 billion in new gross state product 2015-22. Medicaid expansion also would generate $402 million in new state general revenue 2015-22, including $53 million in new general revenue in 2015, according to a news release.

In Greene County, 15.6 percent of the total employed population works in the health care industry, compared to a 7.6 percent average statewide, according to MERIC.

Gov. Jay Nixon, as well as the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, have renewed calls this year for expansion, which would bring in an estimated $5.7 billion in federal funds to Missouri and add 300,000 people to Medicaid rolls.

This year, many provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act went into effect. Despite backing by business groups - including the Springfield, Branson and Bolivar chambers of commerce - the Missouri General Assembly did not pass Medicaid expansion measures in 2013, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

According to an Associated Press report, legislation has been introduced in the Missouri General Assembly this session, but the Republican-led legislature is unlikely to be swayed.