Two Lives Lost, Countless Others at Risk: The Devastating Impact of Idaho’s Medicaid Cuts
Published at 11:58 am, February 10, 2026 | Updated at 12:08 pm, February 10, 2026
By Kyle Pfannenstiel, Idaho Capital Sun
BOISE — Imagine a lifeline being severed, leaving the most vulnerable adrift. That’s the grim reality in eastern Idaho, where two patients have died just months after the state slashed a critical Medicaid mental health service. But here’s where it gets even more alarming: these deaths are just the tip of the iceberg. Crisis centers are overwhelmed, jails are strained, and mental health providers are sounding the alarm—all because a program that delivered mobile, specialized care to those with severe mental illness was abruptly cut.
The program, known as Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), wasn’t just a service; it was a safety net. It provided peer support, helped patients navigate treatment, and brought care directly to those who needed it most. But when Idaho’s Medicaid contractor, Magellan, axed it in December 2025 under Governor Brad Little’s budget-cutting orders, the consequences were swift and severe. Crisis center visits in eastern Idaho spiked by 34% in December and a staggering 43% in January compared to the previous year, according to DeVere Hunt, CEO of Badger, Inc., which operates regional crisis centers.
“These are individuals who no longer have the community services that kept them stable,” Hunt explained. And yet, the full extent of the damage might still be hidden. Many mental health clinics are quietly continuing some mobile services out of their own pockets, masking the true fallout of the cuts. But providers warn that hospitalizations are up, crisis units are overburdened, and jails are struggling to cope. Laura Scuri, co-owner of Access Behavioral Health Services in Boise, paints a dire picture: “We’re seeing increases in arrests, detentions, and people falling through the cracks.”
But here’s the controversial part: While state officials claim the ACT program wasn’t entirely eliminated—arguing that individual services are still available—mental health providers and families beg to differ. They say the cuts have gutted the system, leaving patients without the comprehensive, coordinated care that ACT provided. And the human cost is undeniable. One of the patients who died, a man in his 40s, had no known underlying medical conditions. Yet, he succumbed to complications after a minor surgery because he lacked the support to follow through with post-operative care. Ric Boyce, owner of Mental Health Specialists in Chubbuck, stated in a court filing that if ACT had still been in place, his staff would have caught the warning signs and intervened.
“We would have had nurses checking on him, catching infections early, and counselors encouraging him to engage with medical care,” Boyce said. Instead, his clinicians arrived at the patient’s home only to find a funeral in progress. Another former ACT patient was found in the midst of a psychiatric emergency, requiring immediate hospitalization. Boyce’s clinic, like many others, is still providing some mobile services without state funding, but he warns, “We can’t keep this up indefinitely. None of us can.”
And this is the part most people miss: The cuts were supposed to save money, but providers and even state officials admit they might end up costing more in the long run. Sasha O’Connell, Idaho’s Medicaid Deputy Director, has acknowledged that the state isn’t even sure the cuts will yield savings. Meanwhile, Republican lawmaker Rep. Ben Fuhriman is pushing to reinstate the program, arguing that protecting citizens and ensuring public safety are core functions of government. “We need to rethink our priorities,” he said. “This isn’t just about balancing a budget; it’s about saving lives.”
But not everyone agrees. Governor Little’s budget chief, Lori Wolff, defends the cuts as necessary, calling them “hard decisions” in a budget crunch. “There’s no easy way to cut Medicaid without impacting real people,” she said. Yet, as the Legislature considers further cuts to fund tax reductions, the question remains: Are we sacrificing the most vulnerable for short-term financial gains?
The emotional toll of these cuts was on full display at a recent town hall held by Democratic lawmakers, who stepped in after the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) refused public testimony. For four hours, Idahoans shared heart-wrenching stories. Colleen Kelsey spoke of the relentless challenges of parenting children with disabilities, calling Medicaid respite care and training programs “lifelines.” Sara Cox lamented that budget talks reduce her brother with Down syndrome “to a number.”
Here’s the bigger question: Are these cuts a false economy? Eastern Idaho behavioral health officials warn that weakening community-based services will only shift costs to hospitals, jails, and law enforcement. “This isn’t just a moral issue—it’s a practical one,” said Darin Burrell, chair of the region’s behavioral health board. “We’re cutting through muscle and down to bone, and the consequences will be felt by all of us.”
As Idaho grapples with this crisis, the debate rages on. Are these cuts a necessary evil, or a dangerous gamble with lives at stake? We want to hear from you. Do you think reinstating the ACT program should be a priority, even if it means reallocating funds from other areas? Or is the state right to focus on broader budget cuts? Share your thoughts in the comments below—this is a conversation that demands your voice.
