The 87 already-established clinics been assessed against the DoHDA’s minimum standards.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released an approach to market, calling for tenders to provide independent clinical assessments of urgent care clinics across the country.
Commonwealth-funded urgent care clinics have been in operation since 2023 and have been funded to the tune of $1.4 billion to date, including $493.5 million over five years from 2022-23 to support the establishment of 58 Medicare UCCs; an additional $227 million as part of the 2024-b5 Budget for a further 29 Medicare UCCs opened from 1 July 2024; and $11.6 million in the 2024-25 mid-year economic and fiscal outlook for Victorian Medicare UCCs.
In the latest federal budget, the Albanese government committed another $644.3 million over three years from 2025-26 to open a further 50 Medicare UCCs.
The ATM, released on Friday, says the DoHDA is seeking tenders for independent clinical assessments for the yet-to-be-opened UCCs and the “ongoing assurance requirements of established clinics as needed”, beginning on 1 August this year and running until 2027-28, with the possibility of a 12-month extension.
The DoHDA confirmed to HSD that the already established clinics – currently numbering 87 – have undergone independent clinical assessment by Quality Practice Accreditation. QPA confirmed that it would be tendering for the new contract.
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All UCCs are operated in accord with the department’s Operational Guidance for Urgent Care Clinics document, which provides guidance about scope of conditions, triage and patient direction within the UCC, accessibility, patient follow-up and communication with usual GP, follow-up of diagnostic tests and referrals, referral pathways and integration with health services, staffing, monitoring activity and clinical safety, facilities, infrastructure, and equipment, and infection prevention and control.
The department’s ATM says independent clinical assessments will be carried out prior to new clinics opening, and will be conducted “post-opening” at established clinics when “determined by the department” to meet the ongoing program assurance requirements over 2025-26 to 2027-28.
Assessors will be required to provide “clear and accessible summary reports” on the outcome of the ICA within two business days of the on-site visit, including any clinically critical criteria that must be addressed by the Medicare UCC prior to opening, and non-clinically critical criteria within three months of opening.
The assessments will be conducted by “appropriately trained staff (including clinicians such as nurses and/or medical doctors) with sufficient experience to assess the extent by which Medicare UCCs meet the operational guidance requirements”.
“Experience in relevant areas is preferred, such as emergency medicine with primary care, urgent care and/or general practice (where this has included delivery of urgent care).
“The summary reports should include proposed action to meet unmet criteria, identifying training or development opportunities for the staff in Medicare UCC to meet unmet requirements, as applicable,” say the ATM documents.
The department will hold an industry briefing on the ATM on 20 June, with tenders closing at 2pm on 7 July, and services to start on 1 August.