{"id":356117,"date":"2026-02-25T20:44:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T20:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/356117\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T20:44:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T20:44:26","slug":"idaho-cuts-psychosis-program-three-patients-have-died","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/356117\/","title":{"rendered":"Idaho cuts psychosis program; three patients have died"},"content":{"rendered":"

A former patient of an Idaho program that sought to keep people with severe psychosis on their medication has died, providers said. It was the third death since the Idaho Health and Welfare Department cut the program, called Assertive Community Treatment, in December amid statewide budget shortages.<\/p>\n

The man who died was living in the Treasure Valley, said Laura Scuri, who had contracted with the state to run the Boise chapter of the program, in an email to the Idaho Statesman. Providers have declined to name the former patients who died, citing legal requirements around patient confidentiality.<\/p>\n

\u201cDestabilization is already occurring,\u201d Scuri and Ric Boyce, another former leader of the program, wrote in a news release announcing the death. \u201cThe increase in deaths makes that undeniable.\u201d<\/p>\n

The release did not specify a date or cause of death.<\/p>\n

In the 18 months before the program\u2019s cancellation, there had been one reported death among its approximately 200 patients statewide<\/a>, according to the release.<\/p>\n

When providers across Idaho learned that the state planned to cut their program, called Assertive Community Treatment, they rushed to warn lawmakers and state officials that the results could be dire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe told the state. We said, \u2018Look, if you do this, it\u2019ll take five weeks for people to start dying\u2019\u201d once people\u2019s medications wear off, Scuri previously told the Statesman<\/a>. The patients involved in the program, she said, tended to have such severe conditions that they were unlikely to come in for care on their own. They relied on providers to check in on them.<\/p>\n

\"Mental Mental health provider Laura Scuri, left, with former patient Kristi Ackerman. Scuri previously oversaw the Boise branch of the statewide Assertive Community Treatment program. The state-funded program provided care to patients with schizophrenia, bipolar or other psychosis, until it was cut Dec. 1. Sarah A. Miller smiller@idahostatesman.com <\/p>\n

The Assertive Community Treatment program sought to find and help treat people suffering from severe mental illness, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The program model gave priority to keeping people on their medications, many of which are monthly shots to guard against psychosis.<\/p>\n

Amid state budget shortages<\/a>, and a resulting call from Gov. Brad Little in August to reduce the department\u2019s budget by 3%<\/a>, Health and Welfare canceled the program anyway. It was one of few cuts the department could make without violating federal and state Medicaid requirements, said AJ McWhorter, a spokesperson for Health and Welfare.<\/p>\n

Without \u201cintensive oversight,\u201d patients served by the Assertive Community Treatment program frequently \u201close insight into their illness, stop medication, and become disconnected from reality while experiencing hallucinations and delusions,\u201d according to Thursday\u2019s release.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen that happens,\u201d Scuri and Boyce wrote, \u201ccrises escalate quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Sarah Cutler<\/a><\/p>\n

Idaho Statesman<\/p>\n

Sarah covers the legislative session and state government with an interest in political polarization, government accountability and the intersection of religion and politics. Please reach out with feedback, tips or ideas. If you like seeing stories like hers, please consider supporting her work with a digital subscription.
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