Primary Health Networks: Medicare Urgent Care Clinics

Overview

This initiative was announced in the October 2022-23 Budget. The Australian Government (Government) allocated $135 million over four years (2022-23 to 2025-26) to commence the establishment of 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) throughout Australia.  The Medicare UCCs will ease the pressure on hospitals and give Australian families more options to see a healthcare professional when they have an urgent, but not life-threatening, need for care. This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment to strengthen Medicare and make it easier to see a doctor as published in the Plan for a Better Future. The purpose of this grant opportunity is to deliver funding through eligible Primary Health Networks (PHNs), under the broader PHN Program, to establish Medicare UCCs in the locations announced by the Commonwealth (where the PHN has the role of commissioner) and provide ongoing support. The Medicare UCCs will be: Based in existing GP clinics, community health centres or ACCHS; Operate extended business hours and accept walk-in patients; Bulk-billed resulting in no out-of-pocket costs to the patient; Flexible and diverse, responding to the needs of the local community; High quality, safe and effective; and Treat conditions that do not require a hospital admission (i.e., broken bones, wounds, and minor burns). To view the grant opportunity documents, please select the red "Grant Opportunity Documents" button on the left hand side.