About the initiative
During the 2023-24 May Budget, the Australian Government announced $358.5 million over five years from 2022-23 to establish 58 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCCs). This measure builds on the 2022-23 October Budget measure. The Medicare UCCs will be set up across Australia.
The Medicare UCCs are a new model of care to reduce pressure on our hospitals and will:
- be based in existing GP clinics, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services
- be open after normal business hours and accept walk-in patients
- be diverse, responding to the needs of the local community
- be accessible to all people, including vulnerable people and young people.
People will be able to attend a Medicare UCC for non-life threatening acute episodic care for minor injuries and illnesses. This includes closed fractures, simple eye injuries, minor burns, treating a UTI or ear infection.
Medicare UCCs won’t be able to see people for major trauma or complex conditions. This includes things like chronic disease management or preventive health procedures such as cervical screening tests.
Goals
The Medicare UCCs will:
- increase options available for Australians to access timely and affordable healthcare services, particularly in the after hours periods and for same day healthcare
- support Australians to have connected pathways of care through an integrated health system
- provide culturally safe and appropriate care all people, including priority populations
- reduce demand on emergency departments and allow hospital resources to focus on higher-urgency, life-threatening conditions
- complement existing state-run emergency diversion initiatives.
Becoming a Medicare UCC
Medicare UCC will be open to existing GPs, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.
A clinic must be able to meet the operational guidance and design principles included in the expression of interest when they are open.
Clinics should have a strong connection to the local emergency department and the surrounding health ecosystem.
Status
We will continue to update this page as more information becomes available.
New South Wales
NSW released an expression of interest process for Medicare UCCs on 2 March 2023 which closed on 12 April 2023. Applications are now under assessment.
Queensland
QLD released an expression of interest process for Medicare UCCs on 24 February 2023 which closed on 24 March 2023. Applications are now under assessment.
South Australia
SA released an expression of interest process for Medicare UCCs on 22 February 2023 which closed on 24 March 2023. Applications are now under assessment.
Western Australia
WA released an expression of interest process for Medicare UCCs on 1 February 2023 which closed on 24 March 2023. Applications are now under assessment.
Tasmania
TAS released an expression of interest process for Medicare UCCs on 24 December 2022 which closed on 1 February 2023. Applications are now under assessment.
Other states and territories
Announcements for other locations and expressions of interests will occur as negotiations continue to progress with state and territory governments.
Contact
If you have questions about the Medicare UCC Initiative, contact the Medicare UCC team through the Department of Health and Aged Care online enquiry form.
Services Australia is responsible for registrations to connect Medicare UCCs to Medicare. This includes registering the Medicare UCC to the Organisation Register and providing secondary provider numbers for Medicare UCC providers.
If you have questions about Medicare Provider Registration applications assistance please contact the Medicare provider enquiries line on 132 150.
If you have questions about registering a Medicare UCC on HPOS Organisation Register please contact the Services Australia Organisation Register team at Organisation.Register@servicesaustralia.gov.au.