On May 18, the Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA) released a report analyzing the impact of the national health care reform law on insurance and health care spending in Kansas.  The report projects that Kansas’ Medicaid program will save $206 million between 2014 and 2019 and that 131,000 Kansas residents will gain health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP as a result of national reform.  If the state makes no substantive changes beyond those required under the national law, the report projects that state costs will be between $2 million and $5.3 million annually after 2019, depending on the number of residents remaining uninsured.  However, if the state increases Medicaid reimbursements by 5 percent, the report projects that state costs will reach $32.9 million to $36.3 million annually.  The report also estimates that the overall costs of health coverage for small businesses in Kansas will decrease under reform, as more employees become eligible for Medicaid and federal insurance subsidies; however, costs for large businesses will increase.  Finally, the report projects that most residents covered through individual plans will see premium costs decrease as a result of reform.

From the report:

The purpose of this report is to present an initial and preliminary estimate the impact federal health reform will have in Kansas. This analysis will likely prompt a more in-depth look at specific aspects of reform, and KHPA looks forward to feedback from policymakers, stakeholders and others that will help us to refine the estimates and help prepare the state for key choices that need to be made over the next three and a half years.

Full report:  Kansas Health Policy Authority Health Care Reform Executive Summary (PDF | 189.27 KB)

Kansas Health Policy Authority (KHPA). (2010). Health reform: executive summary presented to the KHPA board, May 18, 2010