Report: 22K jobs possible in Colorado by 2026 if Medicaid expanded

Expanding Medicaid could result in 22,388 new jobs in Colorado and increase economic activity by $4.4 billion by 2026, according to a report commissioned by the Colorado Health Foundation.

The report “Medicaid Expansion: Examining the Impact on Colorado’s Economy,” was completed by Charles S. Brown of Charles Brown Consulting Inc.

In addition, the report shows that expanding Medicaid to 138 percent of the federal poverty level will require fewer state dollars than not doing so.

Expanding Medicaid would also result in an increase in annual household earnings by an average of $608, according to the report.

Colorado’s economy is expected to grow with or…