Medicaid enrollment will increase an average of 13.2 percent across the country through the end of the 2015 fiscal year, according to new analysis, and even more in states that expand the program under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Kaiser Family Foundation said that the 28 states, including the District of Columbia, implementing the Medicaid expansion expect to see the largest enrollment and spending growth — an 18 percent increase in enrollment and an 18.3 percent increase in total Medicaid spending.

In fiscal year 2014, Medicaid enrollment increased 8.3 percent, on average, higher than previous years.

Also read: What new Medicaid enrollees think about their coverage

The spending growth is primarily driven by the boost in new enrollment that is financed by 100 percent federal funds, Kaiser said. With the additional federal dollars, state spending in expansion states is projected to increase at a slower rate of 4.4 percent.

Without the coverage expansion and federal funding, the 23 states not implementing Medicaid under PPACA project an average 5.2 percent enrollment growth.

“Whether a state elected to expand or not, Medicaid programs across the nation are being transformed with new enrollment procedures and outreach efforts combined with increased emphasis on delivery systems reforms,” said Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the foundation and executive director of the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured.

Kaiser’s survey was based on information gathered from state Medicaid directors.

Also read: Medicaid expansion drops Latino uninsured rate

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Double-digit growth forecast for Medicaid enrollment

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