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Just the Facts on Medicaid Expansion

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Key Points

Sources

1. What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is an important program that insures 83 mm Americans

ABC News, 1/30/25, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/medicaid-largest-us-public-health-insurance-program/story?id=118189440

- Strengths of the program

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, https://www.cbpp.org/blog/medicaid-works-10-key-facts?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2hhQuTT-Lk2y1i5RHYNkXzJTAEHTavv_6ltCYHnfYbd3cDQPLOKvcYN3o_aem_blbaxoH3ccIucHRDuLGe0g

2. What is Medicaid Expansion? The ACA gave states the option to expand Medicaid, with the Federal gov. paying most of the cost.

National Institutes of Health, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4225799/

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/medicaid-expansion-frequently-asked-questions-0

- most states opted in, and have benefited

KFF, https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/what-does-the-recent-literature-say-about-medicaid-expansion-economic-impacts-on-providers/

- unfortunately Texas is one of the few states that has not opted to expand Medicaid

Texas Standard, https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/why-hasnt-texas-expanded-medicaid/

3. Why should Texas Expand Medicaid? Expanding Medicaid will have huge benefits for Texas

  1. It will provide health insurance coverage for over 1 million Texans. Texas has by far the highest uninsured rate in the country

    Texas LSG, https://texaslsg.org/2025/02/18/the-texas-healthcare-crisis-millions-uninsured-physician-shortages-and-the-fight-for-womens-care/

  2. It would improve the health of Texans, including reducing maternal mortality. Right now Texas has poor health outcomes compared to other states.

    Texas Standard, https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/why-hasnt-texas-expanded-medicaid/

    Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/medicaid-expansion-frequently-asked-questions-0

  3. It would help build our economy and create jobs

    The Perryman Group, https://www.perrymangroup.com/media/uploads/report/perryman-only-one-rational-choice-02-13-13.pdf

    The Commonwealth Fund, https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2021/may/economic-employment-effects-medicaid-expansion-under-arp

    National Bureau of Economic Research, https://www.nber.org/digest/aug16/financial-impacts-medicaid-expansion-under-aca

  4. It will especially help rural Texans

    Texas Hospital Association - https://www.tha.org/issues/rural-health-care/

    Cover Texas Now - https://covertexasnow.org/posts/2023/2/22/texas-should-say-yes-to-medicaid-expansion

  5. A large majority of Texans support expanding Medicaid

    Episcopal Health Foundation - https://www.episcopalhealth.org/enews/new-ehf-poll-shows-sweeping-support-for-medicaid-expansion-in-texas/