Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced on Thursday that he would accept federal funding to offer Medicaid more uninsured Kentuckians. The expansion has the potential to almost halve the number of uninsured people in the state. Governor Beshear  cited research that found accepting the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid option would create 17,000 new jobs and add $15.6 billion to Kentucky’s economy between 2014-2021. He also considered an Arkansas-style plan, but rejected it because the idea proved too costly.

“My only concern was the cost,” Mr. Beshear said. “We have now done the exhaustive research — and our conclusion matched what most other states have found: by expanding Medicaid, Kentucky will come out ahead in terms of both health outcomes and finances. In fact, if we don’t expand Medicaid, we will lose money.”