Professors release study supporting medicaid expansion
Nebraska voters will decide this November whether or not to expand medicaid to 90,000 low–income Nebraskans.
On Monday, Nebraska professors released a study they said highlights what the economic benefits would be. It includes data from states that have already expanded medicaid.
“In our professional judgement — medicaid expansion — the benefits to the state far exceed the cost,” said Dr. Allan Jenkins, Professor of Economics at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Dr. Jenkins said expanding medicaid would create around 11,000 jobs and generate more than $1 billion in economic activity.
He said expanding medicaid would relieve a burden on rural hospitals because more people would have coverage.
“From the perspective of the local hospital, every uninsured person is a walking financial time bomb because whether or not you have insurance…the local hospital has to try and take care of you whether or not you can pay. And that’s creating a real burden now, particularly rural hospitals.”
Gov. Ricketts opposes the initiative, saying the federal money still comes from Nebraska taxpayers.
LIBA will be hosting a debate on the initiative Tuesday between Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld and Jessica Shelburn of Americans for Prosperity. Also on Tuesday will be a public hearing on the subject that will be at the state capitol.
