Expanding Medicaid to cover poor adults is incredibly unpopular among most Texas Republicans — and Gov. Rick Perry has vowed the key tenet of the federal Affordable Care Act won't be rolled out here. But proposals to do it have gained traction among some fiscal conservatives, who argue the economic benefits of expanding Medicaid could outweigh the political backlash.
This interactive map shows the estimated economic impact of expanding Medicaid by legislative district, according to a report by Billy Hamilton, the state’s former chief revenue estimator and a consultant commissioned by the interfaith group Texas Impact and Methodist Healthcare Ministries. To distinguish partisan leadership in each district, Republican-led districts are covered by red stripes and Democrat-led districts by blue dots. Switch between the maps to see the anticipated economic impact of the Medicaid expansion on House and Senate districts.
Economic Impact of Medicaid Expansion by:
Texas could draw down $100 billion in federal funds over ten years if the state invests $15 billion to expand Medicaid services to impoverished adults, according to Hamilton’s report “Expanding Medicaid in Texas: Smart, Affordable and Fair.” The infusion of federal funding would stimulate local economies, resulting in $2.1 billion in new local tax revenue, Hamilton, a former deputy state comptroller, suggests.
In both legislative chambers, Republican districts had lower annual uncompensated care costs on average and greater estimated increases in local tax revenue than Democratic districts, according to Hamilton’s findings. The district represented by Sen. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, has the greatest estimated increase in local tax revenue according to Hamilton's findings — nearly $85 million between 2014 and 2017.
Use this Tribune interactive to see uncompensated care costs by county.
Opponents of the Medicaid expansion argue following provisions in federal health reform is a slippery slope to socialized medicine. They suggest problems in the existing Medicaid program would be exacerbated if 2 million additional Texans were enrolled. For example, the low provider reimbursement rates paid by Medicaid have created a limited network of available clinicians; if the program expands, they argue existing Medicaid patients — like children, pregnant women and the disabled — could have greater difficulty accessing care.
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Comments (12)
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Republican leaders need to lead, and educate their constituents why this is important. It's a weakness that the leadership doesn't do this. And it's not like most people have a sophisticated understanding of the true costs for not helping provide health care to our most vulnerable citizens.
Sergio Jaramillo via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Republican leaders and lead in same sentence? Surely you Jest, madame.
Martha Dunkelberger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'm glad they're responding (finally) although it would have been nice if they'd responded to this call because it was the right thing to do...not just because it will save money.
Jordan Stryk via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sergio, she has a point. It's just that they would rather pander to the fear-mongering and the fear-mongered than actually say HERE'S WHY FOX NEWS IS WRONG
Sergio Jaramillo via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You give them too much credit even by suggesting they know "fox is wrong". The scary thing is they don't know. I was happy to see that Mr. Sandoval and Mrs. Martinez both did what was right.
Mark Paulson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I have heard through a fairly reliable grapevine that Perry will give in at the last minute and quietly approve of setting up the required health exchange program for Texas. The state simply can not afford to opt out. Cant reveal my source though, so its basically heresay when I mention this I guess. But I feel good about it :)
Martha Dunkelberger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Mark, from your lips (fingertips?) to God's ears!
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sergio, I'm a dreamer. :-)
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If the state opts out, the exchanges will still get set up, it's just that the federal government will have control over it, not the state.The exchanges are happening, notwithstanding grandstanding by He of the Goodhair.
Michael Giberson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Long term benefits beyond continued political support for the GOP? Or is that the extent of the long term benefits??
Scott Chase via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The long term benefits include reducing property taxes and insurance premiums that currently subsidize uncompensated care that would be paid for by the Medicaid expansion. Plus, healthy, insured residents are better for business growth and our money would be coming back to Texas, instead of going elsewhere and lowering those states' taxes.
Bobby Hawthorne via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This would require common sense, so, of course, the Repubs will oppose it.