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patients that use the MH Urgent Care Center will be treatable at the site and/or via telehealth services. A small percentage (estimated at 5%) will require medication prior to being able to benefit from treatment. Under the guidance of the program's psychiatrist, these patients will be referred to higher levels of care. Staff will have the ability to conduct assessments for patients presenting with suicidal ideation and will deescalate and avert 5150s when possible. Axis's behavioral health providers are experienced at intervening when suicidal thoughts are presented, and most often, following careful assessment and development of a safety plan, a 5150 can be avoided. Many patients will require medication either right away or eventually. The psychiatrist will prescribe for patients enrolled in Medi-Cal plans; patients with other insurances will be referred to their providers for medication. Even for patients who are medication-resistant, which is frequently the case, a visit to the MH Urgent Care Center will help pave for the way for such intervention in the future. Axis proposes piloting the MH Urgent Care model utilizing a telehealth model as well as at its site at W. Las Positas Blvd. in Pleasanton. In the initial pilot, hours will be 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Monday— Friday, but could be expanded, dependent upon funding availability and community need. Services would be available for ages 5 and above, and available to individuals, couples and families. This service would be available to anyone in the community, regardless of insurance type or lack of insurance. The MH Urgent Care Center would provide an estimated 15 - 20 care coordination visits per week, and an estimated 15- 20 counseling visits per week. An estimated 500 unique patients would be served in year one, based upon 20 patients per week with an average of 3—6 visits per patient over the course of several weeks as they get situated with a provider for longer term care. A New Community Resource During the planning phase, Axis will engage with key community agencies and organizations to get their input on developing and launching the MH Urgent Care Center. Once opened, Axis will publicize the MH Urgent Care Center throughout the community. In particular, Axis will outreach to community agencies and organizations that are frequently the first place a person having a mental or behavioral health difficulty contacts. These include: health providers, safety-net organizations, the faith community, NAMI, police departments, school personnel, and city personnel. Axis routinely receives calls from many of these entities seeking information on how to best assist individuals who contact them for help. An Axis MH Urgent Care Center would be the appropriate resource for all such inquiries. Key Benefits of the MH Urgent Care Center Axis believes strongly that this new model of access could have significant benefits for patients and the health care system. Positive outcomes will include: • Reducing the number of emergency room visits for mental health needs • Reducing the number of calls for assistance from law enforcement • Reducing the number of involuntary psychiatric holds (5150s) • Increasing willingness of individuals to access treatment because the burden of cost will be removed • Increasing willingness of individuals to access treatment because the Care Coordinator will assist with connections to other needed resources • Decreasing the amount of time individuals with a mental health need wait to access treatment Consulting Services Agreement between City of Dublin and April 1, 2021 Axis Community Health for Mental Health Urgent Care Services Pilot Program Exhibit A— Page 3 of 6