According to a study released this week, North Carolina’s decision not to expand Medicaid will directly hurt Mecklenburg County's, and the state’s, pockets.

The report, sponsored by the Cone Health Foundation and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, found that Mecklenburg County’s “gross county product is $236 million smaller in 2014 and the county lost more than $2 million in county revenue.”

Researchers from George Washington University also said 2,406 fewer jobs will be created here in 2016, and there will be a loss of $18.8 million in tax revenue between 2016 and 2020, if the state doesn't elect to expand Medicaid next legislative session. Oh, and let's not forget the 32,316 Mecklenburg County residents who won’t have access to affordable health care. Thanks, McCrory!

As with any great book, I skipped ahead to the last sentence for a spoiler: "Expanding Medicaid would strengthen the economy and bolster job growth in counties all across North Carolina, as well as improve health access for almost half a million North Carolinians."

You can read the study here.