2022 HEALTH CARE EDITION
several local representatives said Med- icaid is top of mind. Those opposed to expansion said Texas would still be on the hook for about $500 million in pro- gram costs and questioned the e ects it would have on improving health care outcomes in the state. “Medicaid expansion ... does not necessarily equal expanded access to care,” said state Rep. Cody Vasut, R Angleton. “Many providers in Texas do not accept new Medicaid patients.” State Rep. Dennis Paul, R Houston, and Greg Bonnen, R Friendswood, did not respond to requests for comment. Johnson said even if Medicaid is not expanded, there are things that can be done at the legislative level to improve the system. “I think more and more legislators are realizing that even if we don’t expand Medicaid, there are improve- ments to the current system that can be made,” she said. Jake Magee contributed to this report.
COST OF EXPANSION To date, 12 U.S. states have not adopted Medicaid expansion, including Texas. Researchers with Texas A&M University calculated what the cost would be to the state and the federal government to expand in each Texas county.
Expanded Medicaid Has not expanded Medicaid
MEDICAID ENROLLMENT PER 100,000 PEOPLE
NEW YORK 35,809
WITH STATE EXPANSION
New eligibility
New enrollment predicted
CALIFORNIA 33,956
HARRIS COUNTY
Enrollment: 898,567*
223,700 167,500
TEXAS 17,831
GALVESTON COUNTY
FLORIDA 20,840
Enrollment: 49,380*
13,200 9,700
*AS OF OCTOBER 2021
SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS, KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Adults who do not have dependents or are not disabled do not qualify for Medicaid at all. As a result, Texas has the highest rate of uninsured individuals of all states, according to the KFF. Nationally, about 10.9% of people are uninsured,
compared to 20.9% in Texas. Researchers with Texas A&M Uni- versity released a study into the eco- nomic e ects of Medicaid expansion in 2019. The study found expanding Medic- aid would make almost 236,900 more
people eligible in Harris and Galveston counties, and result in almost 177,200 new enrollments. This would come at a cost of around $1 billion to the federal government and $112 million to Texas. Ahead of the next legislative ses- sion, which will kick o in January,
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
512-232-5000 EdServices@austin.utexas.edu highschool.utexas.edu
REAL ESTATE EDITION COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER’S COMING SOON
Full-Time Virtual High School Free for Texans! Enroll now for fall 2022!
LOCAL BUSINESSES: CONTACT US FOR ADVERTISING
Summer online courses available for purchase to catch up or get ahead!
DIGITAL
DIRECT MAIL
Honors and Advanced Placement® subjects available
�866� 989�6808 � COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM�ADVERTISE
@UTHSnation
23
BAY AREA EDITION • JUNE 2022
Powered by FlippingBook