Mental health providers in Idaho are facing significant challenges in stabilizing severely mentally ill patients following cuts to Medicaid funding for critical behavioral health programs. The reductions, implemented in December 2023, affected programs like Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), a decades-old initiative designed to assist individuals with severe mental illnesses, including major depression.
The cuts have eliminated essential services that allowed providers to meet patients in their communities and homes. Sara Bennett, a clinician based in Lewiston and former manager of the regional ACT program, expressed concern over the impact of these changes. “We spent a year and a half stabilizing them. And now they’re both very much unstable and their symptoms are very significant,” she noted, referring to patients who are now struggling without the necessary support.
One critical aspect of ACT included funding for medical personnel, such as nurses who would provide medical treatment in conjunction with behavioral health services. With this funding no longer available, Bennett reported that at least two of her former patients are now weeks behind on their anti-psychotic medications. She added that the disruption in care has contributed to an increase in hospitalizations among former ACT patients.
According to Bennett, about one-third of the previous ACT patients no longer have access to any services, while another third experience inconsistent support. The cuts to behavioral health programs also extend to other areas, impacting referrals for individuals involved in county jails or mental health courts.
The financial ramifications of these cuts are substantial. A report by the Idaho Association of Community Providers (IACP) estimates that the reductions could cost the state upwards of $150 million in local taxpayer dollars. This report highlights the projected financial strain on homeowners in major service hubs, including Boise, Lewiston, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello.
Ric Boyce, co-director of IACP and a clinician who led the ACT team in Pocatello, emphasized the broader implications of these funding cuts. “For local taxpayers footing the bill for increased emergency care, we are looking at between $200 and $800 per person, per year,” he stated. He also noted that the cuts have exacerbated health risks for clients, citing the case of a former ACT patient who died from an infection after routine medical care—a situation that could have been prevented with early intervention.
The impact of these funding reductions has coincided with a marked rise in patient visits to behavioral health crisis centers in Idaho. According to a recent news release from Rehabilitative Health Services in Idaho Falls, the crisis centers in Regions 6 and 7 reported a 34% increase in client visits in December 2023 compared to the previous year, with a further 43% increase in January 2024.
Bennett and Boyce have been actively engaging with legislators, advocating for the restoration of funding for ACT and other vital behavioral health services. The ongoing discussions highlight the urgent need for comprehensive support systems for individuals facing mental health challenges in Idaho.
This report is made in partnership with Northwest Public Broadcasting, the Lewiston Tribune, and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News. For further inquiries, Rachel Sun can be contacted at [email protected] or on X @Rachel_M_Sun.
