Uncompensated care costs would be $4.5 billion lower next year if Medicaid coverage was expanded in states that haven't done so, according to a report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers released Thursday.
That number is in addition to the approximately $4.4 billion reduction in uncomepensated care costs that is expected in states that have already expanded Medicaid in 2016.
The report also highlighted how state economies could benefit from expanding Medicaid. "If the 22 states that have not yet expanded Medicaid did so, states would receive an additional $29 billion in net federal spending in 2016 if expanded coverage was fully in effect," the report stated.
Since having health insurance reduces the risk of death, the report estimates that if the states that have not yet expanded Medicaid did so, 5,200 deaths would be avoided annually once expanded coverage was fully in effect.
More articles on Medicaid expansion:
Medicaid expansion linked to lower bad debt at nonprofit hospitals, says Moody's
Nonprofit hospitals begin to see financial improvement
Kansas, Texas back Florida in Medicaid expansion fight