According to a study funded by two state foundations, expanding Medicaid in North Carolina could create about 43,000 jobs and $22 billion in new business activity. (In addition, of course, to the benefits that would accrue to individuals who would get more health care.)

According to North Carolina Health News:

In all, 43,000 extra jobs would be created if the General Assembly would increase access to the program that provides health care coverage for healthy adults, as allowed for under President Obama’s signature Affordable Care Act. Currently, North Carolina covers about 1.8 million low-income children, their parents, people with disabilities and poor elderly who mostly live in nursing homes. Expansion would extend health coverage to parents who make more than 50 percent of the federal poverty level ($9,895 for a family of three), as well as childless adults without disabilities.

You can read the study here.

(H/t to The Times-News, which editorialized on this subject today.)