Information and Call To Action
IMCare and Lakeview Behavioral Health
IMCare's Decision to Remove Lakeview Behavioral Health as an In-Network Provider
As of December 29, 2023 IMCare has informed Lakeview Behavioral Health that it will no longer be an in-network provider with IMCare. This unilateral and abrupt decision by IMCare, which came without explanation, will undoubtedly have detrimental effects not only on its own members, but on the mental health community as a whole in Itasca County. Since its inception in 2017, Lakeview has had the privilege of providing nearly 94,000 service lines to IMCare’s members, including nearly 15,000 so far this year. Currently, it is unclear where or how these services will be absorbed. In effect, IMCare’s rash and ill-conceived decision will create a mental health desert in our already underserved area, and leave hundreds of its members without care. If you are an IMCare member, you may contact IMCare, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Human Services to voice your concerns or raise questions about what this means for you. Additionally, if you or someone you know struggles with mental health or substance use disorder, or even if you simply care about our community, you may also want to contact IMCare, the Minnesota Department of Health, and Minnesota Department of Human Services and let them know that now is not the time to curb access to vital mental health care services.
If you have questions, reach out to Lakeview Behavioral Health at Leadership@lakeviewbh.com
Call To Action
1. File a complaint with the MN Department of Health by completing this form: Complaint Form
2. Contact the MN Ombudsman for Mental Health – Michael Woods: Phone: 218-279-2526, Cell: 651-529-0243, Email: michael.woods@state.mn.us, Address: 121 7th Place E. Suite 420, St. Paul, MN 55101
And contact your other representatives and resources:
Itasca County Commissioner Terry Snyder, 218-360-5905, Terry.Snyder@co.itasca.mn.us
Itasca County Commissioner Burl Ives, 218-259-1279, Burl.Ives@co.itasca.mn.us
Itasca County Commissioner Casey Venema, 218-812-9830, Casey.Venema@co.itasca.mn.us
Itasca County Commissioner Cory Smith, 218-256-5959, Cory.Smith@co.itasca.mn.us
Itasca County Commissioner John Johnson, 218-259-3529, John.Johnson@co.itasca.mn.us
Representative Spencer Igo 7A, 800-336-9124, rep.spencer.igo@house.mn.gov
Senator Justin Eichorn, 651-296-7079, senateinformation@senate.mn
Governor Tim Walz, 800-657-3717, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, St. Paul. MN 55155
Minnesota Dept. of Health – Managed Care section, health.mcs@state.mn.us, P.O. Box 64882, St. Paul, MN 55164
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, alex.boutrous@ag.state.mn.us, Keith Ellison, MN Attorney General, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 1400, St. Paul,
MN 55101
Minnesota Department of Commerce (they may say they don’t oversee IMCare but they do oversee insurance carriers), Complaints at 651-539-1600, 85 7th Place East, Suite 280, St. Paul, MN 55101
Why This Matters
> > If you are directly impacted by the termination of IMCare services at Lakeview Behavioral Health
> > If you have friends or loved one impacted by the termination of IMCare services at Lakeview Behavioral Health
> > If you are a health care provider and are concerned by the termination of IMCare services at Lakeview Behavioral Health
> > If you are a non-profit or other agency that has benefited from a relationship with Lakeview Behavioral Health and have concerns about a termination of service for IMCare patients
> > If you simply care about the overall health and wellness in Itasca County and have concerns about the termination of IMCare services at Lakeview Behavioral Heath
