Draft:Ivan Bhardwaj

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Ivan Bhardwaj (born Omar Mohmand; April 7, 1986) is Chief of the Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Policy Division at the California Department of Healthcare Services.[1] [2][3][4][5] In this capacity, Bhardwaj oversees behavioral health programs and policy for county Mental Health Plans, as well as the Drug Medi-Cal and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System programs.[2]

Since 2016, Bhardwaj has held such positions as Staff Services Manager,[6] Section Chief Community Services Division,[7][8] Chief of the Federal Grants Branch,[2][9] and Acting Chief Behavioral Health Division.[10][11] As Chief of the Federal Grants Branch, Bhardwaj oversaw the Naxolone Distribution Project,[2] which has been credited with reversing more than 208,000 overdoses in California as of October 23, 2023.[12]

Bhardwaj is a trilingual first generation immigrant and a summa cum laude graduate of University of Massachusetts Boston. He currently lives in Rancho Cordova with his wife and son.

Ivan Bhardwaj
Ivan Bhardwaj speaks at his wedding in Sacramento, California.
Born
Omar Mohmand

(1986-04-07) April 7, 1986 (age 38)
Wiesbaden, Hess, Germany
Alma materUniversity of Massachusetts Boston
OccupationDivision Chief
EmployerCalifornia Department of Healthcare Services

Early Life and Education[edit]

Early Childhood[edit]

Ivan Bhardwaj was born Omar Mohmand on April 7, 1986 in Biebrich, a borough of Wiesbaden, Germany. Until age five, Bhardwaj lived in the city of Munich. In 1991, Bhardwaj immigrated to Irvine, California and attended El Camino Real Elementary, a year-round school in the Irvine Unified School District.

High School[edit]

Bhardwaj attended Irvine High School from 2001-2003. During this time, he performed on the Varsity ComedySportz team with actor Jack DeSena and pianist Jeremy Siskind.[13] During his time in ComedySportz, Bhardwaj described himself as the “key symbolic figure of idiocy.”[14]

University of Massachusetts Boston[edit]

In 2014, Bhardwaj graduated from University of Massachusetts Boston with both honors and summa cum laude distinctions. He was one of four recipients of the Distinction in History departmental prize.[15]

Notable Programs and Policies[edit]

Bhardwaj has been involved in the oversight and implementation of a multitude of programs and policies with the State of California,[2][4][3] and has been specifically recognized by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's Center of Excellence for his insight and expertise.[8] Below are some of these notable programs and policies.

MAT Expansion Project[edit]

The California MAT Expansion Project aims to enhance availability of medication assisted treatment (MAT), diminish untreated treatment demand, and lower opioid overdose fatalities by delivering prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives. The initiative prioritizes individuals facing homelessness, youth, rural, and tribal communities with restricted MAT availability. Funding for the California MAT Expansion Project is provided by DHCS through a combination of federal grants, state general funds, and resources from opioid settlements.[16]

As of January 1, 2023 the MAT Expansion Project has provided medication assisted treatment to 140,000 new patients, provided stimulant treatment 20,000 new patients, and created 650 additional treatment access points.[17]

Naxolone Distribution Project[edit]

The Naloxone Distribution Project was created to diminish opioid overdose fatalities by providing free naloxone in both nasal spray and intramuscular forms. Organizations can submit applications to DHCS to have naloxone shipped directly to their specified address. As of October 23, 2023 the Naloxone Distribution Project has distributed  more than 3,219,000 kits of naloxone, which have been used to reverse over 208,000 opioid overdoses.[12]

Contingency Management Benefit[edit]

Contingency Management (CM) is an evidence-based treatment that provides incentives to individuals living with stimulant use disorder. Contingency Management is the only treatment that has demonstrated robust outcomes for individuals living with stimulant use disorder, including reduction or cessation of drug use and longer retention in treatment.

California is the first state in the country to receive federal approval of Contingency Management as a benefit in the Medicaid program.[18][19][20]

Behavioral Health Administrative Integration[edit]

Behavioral Health Administrative Integration is a long-term plan to improve and simplify behavioral health services in the Medi-Cal system. It proposes merging mental health and substance use services into a single county-based program, which will be managed through one contract between counties and the state of California.

Behavioral Health Administrative Integration intends to enhance care for beneficiaries with co-occurring mental health and substance use issues, while reducing administrative burdens. Currently, separate programs for mental health and substance use services create barriers for clients and add complexity for providers. Behavioral Health Administrative Integration aims to align and integrate these services, making treatment more seamless for those needing both types of care.[21][22][23]

Mobile Crisis Services[edit]

Added as a Medi-Cal benefit through California State Plan Amendment (SPA) 22-0043, mobile crisis services are aimed at offering de-escalation and support to individuals facing behavioral health or substance use-related crises.  These services are administered by a diverse team of trained behavioral health experts and are offered regardless of the individual’s location.

The primary objectives of mobile crisis services encompass providing support through techniques like de-escalation and stabilization, minimizing immediate risks, preventing subsequent harm, and mitigating unnecessary emergency room visits, psychiatric hospitalizations, and involvement of law enforcement.[24]

No Wrong Door for Mental Health Policy[edit]

The No Wrong Door for Mental Health Services Policy ensures that Medi-Cal members receive timely and coordinated mental health services, regardless of where they seek care.[25]

988 California[edit]

988 has been designated as the three-digit dialing code that routes callers to the National Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Crisis Lifeline.[26] The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. Between July 2022 and May 2023, California’s 12 crisis centers responded to more than 280,000 contacts through the 988 program.[27]

Public Speaking[edit]

Ivan Bhardwaj is a prolific public speaker. Among the many organizations and events that have asked Bhardwaj to speak are:

  • 2022 Behavioral Health Care Symposium[3]
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness 2023 Annual Conference[4]
  • California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals[28]
  • California Stakeholder Advisory Committee[29]
  • Systems and Medicaid Committee[2]
  • NTP Reach[30]
  1. ^ "DHCS Executive Staff Org Chart" (PDF). www.dhcs.ca.gov. October 16, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Systems and Medicaid Committee Agenda" (PDF). www.dhcs.ca.gov. April 20, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  3. ^ a b c "2022 Behavioral Health Care Symposium". California Hospital Association. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  4. ^ a b c "NAMI California 2023 Annual Conference Schedule". NAMI California. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  5. ^ Bhardwaj, Ivan; Wong, Michele. "Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) Requirements for the Period of 2022 – 2026" (PDF). California Department of Healthcare Services. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  6. ^ "Salary information for Ivan Os Bhardwaj". Transparent California. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  7. ^ Newswire, C. B. M. (2020-09-28). "Telemedicine Is Transforming Patient Care in California – With Some New Challenges". The Sacramento Observer. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  8. ^ a b Silvia, Jose (October 4, 2022). "STATE MODELS FOR ADDRESSING OPIOID USE DISORDERS: Recovery Support in Integrated Care Settings" (PDF). National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Bhardwaj, Ivan (March 5, 2021). "Federal McKinney Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Grant Application for State Fiscal Year 2021-2022" (PDF). Merced County Website. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  10. ^ Bhardwaj, Ivan (December 19, 2022). "Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis Services Benefit Implementation".
  11. ^ Bhardwaj, Ivan; Simpson, Alexandria (January 31, 2023). "Behavioral Health Information Notice 23-001Informational Webinar" (PDF). www.dhcs.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  12. ^ a b "Naloxone Distribution Project". DHCS Opioid Response. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  13. ^ "Irvine High School Comedy Sportz: Home of The Funniest People Ever". 2001-10-30. Archived from the original on 2001-10-30. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  14. ^ "Omar"-lins are big fish" Mohmand". 2001-10-04. Archived from the original on 2001-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  15. ^ "Commencement Program, 2014". openarchives.umb.edu. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  16. ^ "The California DHCS Opioid Response Overview". www.dhcs.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  17. ^ "Addiction Free CA | About". addictionfreeca.org. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  18. ^ "Recovery Incentives Program - California's Contingency Management Benefit". www.dhcs.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  19. ^ "THE RECOVERY INCENTIVES PROGRAM: CALIFORNIA'S CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT BENEFIT" (PDF). www.dhcs.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  20. ^ Kendall, Marisa (2023-07-24). "How California is fighting meth with gift cards". CalMatters. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  21. ^ "CalAIM Behavioral Health Administrative Integration" (PDF). January 23, 2023.
  22. ^ "Behavioral Health Administrative Integration". www.dhcs.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  23. ^ "CalAIM Behavioral Health Proposals". California Health Care Foundation. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  24. ^ www.dhcs.ca.gov https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/Pages/CalAIM-Mobile-Crisis-Services-Initiative.aspx. Retrieved 2023-10-30. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. ^ "23-1099 No Wrong Door for Mental Health Services Policy Ensures Coordinated Care". www.cahealthwellness.com. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  26. ^ "Home". 988 California. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  27. ^ "California sees 28% increase in mental health calls through new 988 system". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
  28. ^ "Speaker Page - Ivan Bhardwaj". California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals. October 28, 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29.
  29. ^ "Stakeholder Advisory Committee & Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee Hybrid Meeting" (PDF). www.dhcs.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  30. ^ Miller, Niki (January 30, 2020). "New Medicare Benefit: Coverage for NTP Services" (PDF). UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
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