KHA: Kansas hospitals boost economy; Medicaid expansion would enhance impact

Kansas hospitals directly employ 83,867 people and support more than 69,000 additional jobs in other sectors, according to a new report from the Kansas Hospital Association. This employment generates $8.5 billion in income and $2.8 billion in retail sales for the state's economy, the report adds. Earlier reports have shown that the economic impact of health care services would grow even more if the state can develop a solution to extend Medicaid coverage to uninsured low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act. “While these reports indicate the importance of community hospitals and health services to the Kansas economy, they also make it clear that the challenges faced by our state cannot be met by those directly responsible for health care administration alone,” said KHA President and CEO Tom Bell.