TRENTON – Senator Nia H. Gill (D-Essex/Passaic) issued the following statement on a report released today by New Jersey Policy Perspective that found expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act would save New Jersey billions of dollars and that it would provide immediate and major budget savings over the next decade:

“The evidence in favor of expanding Medicaid is enormous. By accepting the option under the Affordable Care Act to expand Medicaid, we not only will be able to provide coverage to hundreds of thousands of residents who are uninsured but we will also benefit from the federal government covering in full the cost of health care for populations currently being paid for by the state.

“The bottom line is the state cannot afford not to take advantage of the opportunity to expand Medicaid. Leaving billions of dollars on the table in Washington while other states reap the benefits of our federal tax dollars is irresponsible. In light of this recent evidence and the clear budgetary savings that would be involved, I urge the governor to follow the lead of states across the country – including Gov. Rick Scott of Florida – to accept the federal government’s offer to cover the entire cost of the expansion in the first three years and to pay the vast majority of the cost moving forward.”