Jan. 29—Texas could experience several economic benefits from extending Medicaid in Texas to cover low-income adults, taking advantage of federal funding through the Affordable Care Act, according to a report released Monday.

The report was commissioned by Texas Impact, a statewide, interfaith advocacy organization, and not-for-profit Methodist Healthcare Ministries. According to the announcement of the report, expanding Medicaid would benefit Texas by providing healthcare coverage to about 1 million adults ages 18 to 64 who are below 138 percent of the federal poverty level while boosting state economic output by $67.9 billion from FY14-17, the report said. The report’s conclusions assume moderate enrollment levels.

Medicaid expansion also would reduce the state’s uninsured population by 25 percent, generating an estimated 231,000 additional jobs by 2016, and would significantly reduce annual hospital charity care costs (currently $1.8 billion), the report said.

Publication Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2013