As Executive Director, Behavioral Health Integration, Carmen Nicole Katsarov is responsible for the management and oversight of CalOptima’s Behavioral Health department, along with new implementation related to state and county behavioral health initiatives. Carmen is a Social Worker, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and Certified Case Manager with direct practice in community, hospital, utilization, and case management and over 20 years of both clinical and leadership roles, overseeing behavioral health utilization management, case management, social services, and leading initiatives for Commercial, Medicaid and Medicare most recently at Magellan Health and Blue Shield of California Promise Health plan. Carmen holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Northeastern University, and a master’s degree in psychology from Illinois School of Professional Psychology.