Gov Steven Beshear Discusses the Benefits of Kentucky Expanding Medicaid

Although Kentucky Gov Steve Beshear knew expanding Medicaid was the right thing to do, he had to make sure it the right economic choice for the state, too, he explained at the America's Health Insurance Plans' National Health Policy Conference, March 10-12 in Washington, DC.

The initial analysis determined that expanding Medicaid would infuse $15.6 billion into Kentucky's economy over 8 years. After the first full year of Medicaid expansion, a new analysis found the forecast is even better. The new projection estimates $30 billion into the economy over 8 years.

"So it's a very exciting study for us, because it confirms our initial decision to do this," Gov Beshear said. "Obviously we need to do this for our people but we are also going to be doing this now because it's going to create a lot of jobs and be an economic boon for our state."