photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, February 2014.

TOPEKA — A new study says expanding Medicaid in Kansas would have a net cost of $47.4 million in the first year.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the nonprofit Kansas Health Institute estimated in the study released Tuesday that an additional 130,000 low-income adults and children would sign up if the program was expanded. That accounts for adults who already are eligible but may not know it, as well as those who already have insurance but would switch if state assistance were available.

The number is lower than previous estimates that 150,000 would sign up for the coverage. KHI policy executive and lead author Kari Bruffett says that’s because economic improvements have left fewer people uninsured.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has made expansion a top priority, although Republican leaders are opposed.