This is the second interim evaluation report of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCC) pilot program, based on program implementation from 30 June 2023 to 30 September 2025. This report builds on the Evaluation of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics: interim evaluation report 1 and includes a more comprehensive range of data sources.

The evaluation addresses the nine Measures of Success that were agreed by the Australian, and state and territory governments. Findings and improvement opportunities have been provided for each of the nine Measures of Success.

Measures of success

1. Timely treatment 
2. Safe and quality treatment 
3. Coordinated care 
4. Experience for patients and carers 
5. Experience for providers at Medicare UCCs, partner hospital EDs and local general practices (GPs)
6. Emergency department (ED) presentations at partner hospitals
7. Consumer behaviour
8. Coordinated care within the health ecosystem
9. Cost effectiveness.

Key findings

• Median wait times at Medicare UCCs has decreased from Interim Evaluation Report 1 and compares favourably with waiting times for category 4 and 5 patients in EDs
• The report found positive support by staff that the clinics provide safe and high-quality care, with most conditions treated at the Medicare UCCs falling within the scope of the operational guidance.
• Medicare UCCs face ongoing barriers with offering access to imaging and pathology services across all or most hours of operation.
• Recruitment of appropriately qualified GPs and nurses to achieve the minimum workforce requirements across extended hours remains an ongoing challenge for providers and is particularly significant in regional and rural areas.
• 45% of patients who presented to Medicare UCCs reported an intention that they would have sought care at an ED if the Medicare UCC was unavailable.
• There is no clear evidence that waiting times and the proportion of patients seen on time has changed for urgent-care-equivalent ED presentations as a result of the availability of Medicare UCCs.
• The average funding for avoided presentations to ED is estimated to be $617 per urgent-care-equivalent ED presentation. On this basis, the savings per avoided ED presentation is $381 per Medicare UCC presentation.