The RP’s KY Political Brief Covers the Medicaid Expansion Decision

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As always, The RP’s KY Political Brief, written and prepared by our wunderkind Managing Editor, Bradford Queen, has aggregated all of the latest news and opinion on Governor Steve Beshear’s decision to sign an Executive Order expanding Kentucky’s Medicaid program to 380,000 more uninsured Kentuckians.  Here’s an excerpt:

NEW PRESCRIPTION — Medicaid health insurance to expand under Obamacare in Kentucky – C-J’s Jessie Halladay – “More than 300,000 uninsured Kentuckians will become eligible for Medicaid after Gov. Steve Beshear announced Thursday that the state will expand the health-insurance program — taking advantage of President Obama’s controversial Affordable Care Act. … He cited research a study conducted by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services that said expanding Medicaid would benefit hundreds of thousands of Kentucky families, improve the state’s failing health, create nearly 17,000 jobs, and have a $15.6 billion positive economic impact on the state between fiscal years 2014 and 2021. … In addition, the study said Kentucky would see a $802.4 million positive impact on the state budget for that period because some expenses would be moved to the federal government. Without expansion, they show that Kentucky would see $38.9 million in additional costs because of changes under the Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare.”” [C-J]–Fact sheet from Governor’s office: “Expansion Is the Right Decision for Kentuckians’ Health: … Kentucky Ranks at the Bottom in Health Outcomes … 640,000 Uninsured Kentuckians … Expansion Has Huge Positive Economic and Budgetary Impact: Expansion Will Have $15.6 Billion Statewide Economic Impact Between FY14 and FY21, Creating Almost 17,000 New Jobs.” [PDF] —Democrats, Health Groups Praise Beshear’s Decision to Expand Medicaid [WFPL] —John David Dyche: “Beshear Wrong to Expand Medicaid” [WDRB] —Jonathan Miller: “Thank You, Governor Beshear” [The RP]