About the clinics
Strengthening Medicare and ensuring all Australians have access to affordable primary care services when and where they need it is a priority for the Australian Government. The Government is investing $1.4 billion over seven years to establish and operate Medicare UCCs across Australia. This includes $644.3 million over three years from 2025-26 Budget to establish 50 additional Medicare UCCs, expanding the current network of 87 to a total of 137 clinics nationwide.
Medicare UCCs provide urgent care services for conditions and illnesses that are episodic and not immediately life-threatening, such as closed fractures, wounds, and minor burns. These services are bulk billed, resulting in no out-of-pocket costs to patients.
Medicare UCCs are staffed by highly trained medical professionals.
Medicare UCCs provide culturally safe, equitable and accessible care to all people, including vulnerable and young people.
You can walk-in without needing an appointment or referral.
Medicare UCCs are open for extended hours. For specific clinic opening hours, contact the clinic directly or visit their website.
Medicare UCC Operational Guidance
The Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (Medicare UCC) Operational Guidance has been developed by the Australian Government in consultation with state and territory governments. It sets the minimum requirements for Medicare UCCs including activities, infrastructure and staffing while allowing sufficient flexibility for services to adapt to local conditions and needs.
The Guidance is reviewed and updated on regular basis, to capture program learning, evaluation insights, and stakeholder feedback.
Why they are important
Medicare UCCs help reduce pressure on our hospitals and emergency departments, allowing them to focus on higher urgency and life-threatening conditions. Medicare UCCs complement existing state run emergency diversion initiatives.
Who we work with
We are working in partnership with state and territory governments, Primary Health Networks, and the health sector to ensure Medicare UCCs:
- are integrated with other local health services
- meet the needs of local communities.
Privacy and consent
We only collect your information when you consent to it. When visiting a Medicare UCC, you will be given a consent form asking for your consent to provide your data.
If you decide not to consent, you will still be treated at the Medicare UCC.
The consent form is available in English and 12 other languages.
Find out how we manage the personal information collected about you when you visit a Medicare UCC.
Connecting Medicare UCC providers to Medicare
Medicare UCCs operate in existing general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. They have a strong connection to the local emergency department and the surrounding health ecosystem.
Services Australia is responsible for registrations to connect Medicare UCCs to Medicare.
To get connected, practice managers need to:
- set up in the Organisation Register
- add the Medicare UCC program to the relevant Organisation Site where the Medicare UCC will operate.
Providers also need to apply for a new Medicare UCC specific provider number to provide Medicare UCC services.
See the Services Australia’s Health Professional Education Resources webpage for information, task cards and contact points.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Evaluation
About the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Evaluation
An evaluation of the Medicare UCC program is underway based on Measures of Success that were developed and agreed by the Commonwealth, and state and territory governments.
The evaluation is being conducted by Nous Group over 2023 to 2026. It provides insights throughout the Medicare UCC program, with a final report due in 2026.
Measures of Success
| 1 | Patients receive timely treatment for urgent non-life-threatening conditions in Medicare UCCs. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Medicare UCCs provide safe and quality treatment to patients. |
| 3 | Medicare UCCs deliver coordinated care for Medicare UCC patients. |
| 4 | Medicare UCCs provide a positive experience for patient/carer. |
| 5 | Medicare UCCs provide a positive experience for providers at Medicare UCCs, in partner hospital EDs, and in local GP practices. |
| 6 | Medicare UCCs reduce pressure on hospital ED presentations at partner hospitals. |
| 7 | There is a change in consumer behaviour over time to use Medicare UCCs where available instead of EDs for urgent non-life-threatening conditions. |
| 8 | Medicare UCCs, PHNS, healthdirect, jurisdictions, and the health ecosystem have established an effective coordinated care option for people with urgent non-life-threatening conditions. |
| 9 | Medicare UCCs are cost-effective. |
The First Interim Report
The Medicare UCC Evaluation First Interim Report is now available.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Program Evaluation: First Interim Report
Contact
If you have questions about the Medicare UCC program, contact the Medicare UCC team through our online enquiry form.
If you are a practice manager or health professional and have questions about provider numbers or connecting your Medicare UCC with Medicare, visit the Services Australia website.