IM Care Director responds at County Board Meeting

At the Itasca County Board Regular Session on Sept. 26, IMCare and Lakeview Behavioral Health were the focus again as more affected individuals expressed their concerns to the board while IMCare Director Sarah Anderson took the opportunity to provide clarity from the insurer's side of the situation.

In early Sept ., IMCare insurance plan-holders were notified by mail that IMCare had terminated its in-network contract with Lakeview Behavioral Health, effective Dec. 29, 2023. The contract termination leaves hundreds of IMCare and Lakeview clients to find a new in-network provider to replace the mental health and substance use treatment many of Lakeview's clients have relied upon for their recovery.

Over the last three weeks, citizen input during the board meeting has been almost exclusively focused on this direct situation. Most often these citizen speakers are an affected client or part of the affected clients' support system, such as Kristina Gambill, a family member of an IMCare plan-holder and Lakeview patient.

Last week Gambill, along with others informed the board that Lakeview clients are already being denied services and medication because of the contract termination, despite it not being effective until the end of Dec.

Gambill was before the board again this week looking for answers,"What are you doing to ensure these patients are going to receive care? Something needs to be done now for these patients."

Others warned of a "trickle-down-effect" that could stress area resources, another citizen speaker said for some, this is "life or death." More requested remediation from the board to resolve an issue that is currently in court.

IMCare Director Sarah Anderson came before the board to help add some clarity from IMCare's side, citing claims and billing practices by Lakeview that have long gone unresolved as a reason for the severance.

To address many of the concerns over the lack of a transition plan and to minimize a gap in coverage for mental health and substance use patients, Anderson said the transition plan was included in the notification letter earlier this month and another can be provided if needed.

Anderson said the transition plan in place was approved by the Minnesota Department of Human Services who will continue assisting with the transition and a nursing staff with Itasca Health and Human Services will follow-up and assist affected clients on an individual basis, and help with identifying and transitioning former Lakeview services to a new provider by the Dec. deadline.

Anderson's response to claims that Lakeview's services have already been denied to IMCare plan-holders is that it is not on from her department, saying "IMCare has not requested that any services be denied or cancelled prior to the contract termination date of Dec. 29."

She continued, "IMCare has not cancelled or asked Lakeview Behavioral Health to cancel. IMCare continues to cover all services until Dec. 29, 2023 and IMCare is continuing to honor our contract. Appointments are not being cancelled on our behalf, if that is true that is being done by Lakeview, not IMCare."

She also clarified that those IMCare plan holders who wish to continue their services at Lakeview can do so, just at their own expense.

In a follow-up response, Executive Clinical Director at Lakeview Behavioral Health Zach Kahmeyer issued the following statements:

"LBH continues to accept new IMCare clients for all services and continues to provide services to all IMCare members who are established clients."

"Services available to all current LBH clients who have IMCare include outpatient mental health therapy, medication management and substance use disorder treatment services."

"No services are being denied to IMCare members on the basis of their status as an IMCare member."

Anderson insists that those that need help in this transition will receive it, informing those affected by the contract termination to contact her office for assistance by telephone: 218-327-6188, or 1-800-843-9536.

"Our intent that there are no negative outcomes," she said.

To see the presentation in its entirety, the board meeting can be streamed online with ICTV.

In other business, Itasca County Auditor/Treasurer, Austin Rohling, presented the 2024 proposed tax levy to the board for consideration. The proposal was for $42,297,261, which is a 2.5% increase over 2023, according to Rohling. Along with the proposed levy, Rohling also proposed a 10% unorganized road and bridge levy, which is the same for last year, and a 3.5% unorganized fire levy, also the same as last year.

Itasca County Commissioner Terry Snyder (D2) was proud of the collaborative effort it took to bring in a levy at only 1/3 of the current inflation rate.

"In all the years I've been a commissioner, one of the longest sessions we've had. We had a lot of serious discussions, which was great," said Snyder. He explained that if you divided out Itasca County's levy over the last five years, the average increase would only amount to 0.5% per year in that period.

"If you take into account what inflation has been, and Covid and post Covid, which has been incredibly high, personally I'm pretty proud of the levies we have kept as a county."

"I think it's a pretty good spot relative to our neighboring counties," added Commissioner John Johnson (D3).

"It's a huge accomplishment," agreed Itasca County Chair Burl Ives (D4).

Rohling said that in his first budget proposal as Itasca County Auditor/Treasurer, "It was a very long, arduous process that we went through, but I would say that it was an honor to see the work that went in to doing everything that we could do to get it to where we are."

Rohling also notified the public that an open public meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 12 to speak and discuss the proposed levy for 2024. The meeting will be held sometime after 6 p.m. in the Itasca County Board Room.

An annual proclamation to raise awareness for hunger and homelessness was provided by Kathleen and Ron, who were accompanied by team members from area-resource organizations who provide relief to those issues.

The proclamation declares November as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month.

"The purpose of the proclamation is to educate the public on the many reasons for hunger and homelessness, and to encourage support from the community, service providers, schools, and local organizations – We need to recognize that hunger and homelessness continues to be a serious problem."

For those experiencing homelessness in Itasca County, dial 2-1-1 to be connected to appropriate area resources.

The Keewatin Trail Runners ATV club requested the board schedule a public informational hearing in Hibbing next month due to most of their trails being in St. Louis County. The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Hibbing Memorial Building.

Other business at Tuesday's meeting:

Commissioner Warrants: $4,222,105.10 with notable payments of $3.5 million to mineral rents, mineral leases, cities, and school districts in the east side of Itasca County.

HHS Warrants: 1,509616.10

Adopted a resolution to execute a Minnesota Department of Transportation Grant Agreement for the Grand Rapids/Itasca County Airport South Taxiway Crack Seal Project in the amount of $111,668.43.

Accepted the 2023-2024 Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) Safe Roads Grant Award in the amount of $26,629.71.