SANDPOINT — Rural communities in North Idaho could face significant reductions in access to healthcare in the coming years as the region’s clinics and hospitals brace for major financial losses tied to upcoming changes in Medicaid.

On July 4, Congress passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping federal package that includes more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade. The law introduces new work requirements, higher copayments, and more frequent eligibility checks, which are expected to result in nearly five million Americans losing coverage, according to GovFacts.org . Yale and University of Pennsylvania scientists calculated these cuts could cause 42,500 avoidable deaths each year.

In rural North Idaho, the impact could be severe. Thousands of residents who

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