Idaho Cuts Medicaid Mental Health Service, 3 Patients Die

Providers warn of public safety risks and rising costs after the state ends a critical treatment program.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 2:02am

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A man in his 40s with severe mental illness recently died in the Boise area after Idaho cut a critical Medicaid mental health service called Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). This marks the third patient death in less than three months since the service was cut, according to a clinic owner who leads the local treatment team. Providers say the cuts are driving up other costs and warn they could lead to violent incidents as people with severe mental health issues lose accessible treatment.

Why it matters

The ACT program was designed to help people with severe mental illness address their basic needs and prevent their conditions from worsening. Providers say the cuts will likely increase costs elsewhere, such as at crisis centers and hospitals, and raise public safety concerns as people lose access to this specialized treatment.

The details

Soon after the cuts were announced, providers and the Idaho Sheriffs' Association warned they would risk public safety. The cuts also ended peer support services that help people navigate mental health treatment. Magellan, the contractor that runs Idaho Medicaid mental health benefits, reduced its pay rate as part of Medicaid provider pay cuts ordered by Gov. Brad Little last year amid state budget cuts. The governor acknowledged the 'unintended consequences' of the cuts, but said 'hindsight's a great thing' when asked if he would have handled it differently after the first two patient deaths.

  • In the year and a half before the cut, providers say only one patient on the program died.
  • In less than three months since the service was cut, three patients have died.
  • The latest death was in February 2026.

The players

Laura Scuri

Co-owner of Access Behavioral Health Services in Boise and leader of the region's Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team.

Magellan

The contractor that runs Idaho Medicaid mental health benefits.

Gov. Brad Little

The governor of Idaho who ordered state budget cuts that led to the Medicaid provider pay cuts.

Ric Boyce

Owner of Chubbuck-based clinic Mental Health Specialists.

Ben Furhiman

An Idaho state representative who plans to introduce a bill to reinstate the ACT program.

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What they’re saying

“It's not gonna stop.”

— Laura Scuri, Co-owner, Access Behavioral Health Services

“I'm worried it's gonna be a child. Some innocent kid that was in the wrong place at the wrong time is going to cross paths with someone who's actively psychotic and get hurt.”

— Laura Scuri, Co-owner, Access Behavioral Health Services

“Hindsight's a great thing.”

— Gov. Brad Little

“We're taking the next step to ensure this program is properly funded. I'm grateful to the chairman for giving it the opportunity to move forward so we can work toward getting it across the finish line.”

— Ben Furhiman, Idaho State Representative

“The only higher level of care is hospital. And you can't send somebody to the hospital and expect to have them hospitalized for a fairly minor medical issue. ... They have to become a danger to (themselves) or others before they can be hospitalized.”

— Ric Boyce, Owner, Mental Health Specialists

What’s next

Rep. Ben Furhiman plans to introduce a bill on Monday in the House Health and Welfare Committee to reinstate the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program, which he estimates would cost the state $4 million annually.

The takeaway

The tragic deaths of three patients following the cuts to Idaho's Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program highlight the serious consequences of reducing access to critical mental health services. This case underscores the need for policymakers to carefully consider the long-term impacts of budget cuts on vulnerable populations and to prioritize preventive mental health care to avoid more costly and devastating outcomes down the line.