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2009 Legacy Lunch Honoring Ambassador Lyndon Olson: Video and Transcript of Remarks If you missed our 2009 Legacy Luncheon, you can watch GSD&M Idea City's video tribute to Lyndon Olson, "A Diplomat for the Common Good," view and/or purchase photos from the event, and read a transcript of Ambassador Olson's remarks.
> more Texas Voice for Health Reform Looking for CPPP's work on national health reform? You can find our blog and latest updates on health reform at Texas Voice for Health Reform. Join our email list to get involved and stay updated on the health reform debate!
> more Census 2010 CPPP is working with the Census Bureau to help increase participation by hard-to-reach households. Accurate Census data ensures Texas gets its fair share of federal funds, helps local decision-makers plan for the future, and assures we get appropriate representation in Congress.
> more What Does It Really Take to Get By in Texas? It’s been well documented that the federal poverty level doesn’t accurately measure today’s cost of living. But what does it really take to get by in Texas?
> more Problems Enrolling in Public Benefits? If you or someone you are helping is having problems enrolling for benefits through Texas' new eligibility system, please let us know.
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Cost-Benefit Analysis of Medicaid Changes in National Health Care Reform: Huge Positive Gains for Texas

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Author:
Anne Dunkelberg /(512) 320-0222 x 102

October 9, 2009

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In explaining why they oppose national health care reform, specifically the Senate Finance Committee's version, Governor Rick Perry and Senator John Cornyn both point to the increase in the cost of Medicaid for the state budget based on a preliminary estimate by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). HHSC says costs would increase by "$20.4 billion over 10 years." In this paper, we analyze HHSC's cost estimate and compare it to the benefit to Texas' economy from Medicaid expansion. We explain that HHSC's estimate includes paying for already eligible but unenrolled children and a shift of certain costs from local to state. We also explain that the estimate cannot be compared to other national estimates because it covers a longer time. We conclude that the agency estimate is unrealistically high, but that by any measure, including the estimate itself, the economic benefit to Texas dramatically outweighs the cost to the state budget.