Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Improving Access to Primary Care in Rural and Remote Areas – COAG Section 19(2) Exemptions Initiative

All states and the Northern Territory (NT) that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Government for the COAG Section 19(2) Exemptions Initiative (the Initiative) may bulk-bill the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for people provided with eligible services at an approved eligible rural and remote location. The Australian Capital Territory does not qualify for the Initiative as it does not include any rural or remote regions.

Page last updated: 26 July 2022

The former COAG introduced the Initiative in conjunction with the Better Health for All Australians Action Plan under the 2006–2007 Federal Budget to improve access to primary care for people living in rural and remote areas of Australia.

Unless an exemption applies, states and territories are not permitted to bill Medicare for services delivered in public hospitals as the Australian Government already provides funding through its national public hospitals funding.

The Initiative aims to improve access to primary health care services in rural and remote communities, including after hours, in public hospital and other health service settings. It does this by granting states and the NT conditional access to Australian Government funding through the MBS to assist with the challenges in attracting and retaining an adequate primary health care workforce in these communities. A state or the NT may put forward a health facility (site) for eligibility consideration by the Australian Government. Approved eligible sites may bulk-bill the MBS for the following services provided in emergency departments and outpatient clinics:

professional non-admitted, non-referred services provided by state remunerated medical practitioners, participating midwives and participating nurse practitioners
professional non-admitted, referred services provided by state remunerated allied health and dental health professionals.

At least 70 per cent of the funding received under the Initiative must be invested in new services and improvements at approved eligible sites or outreach services. This includes the purchasing of new equipment.

Eligibility Criteria

States and the NT participate under the Initiative through a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian Government.

Under the MoU 2022–25 eligibility criteria, sites must be located in areas classified as:

Modified Monash (MM) 5 (small rural towns) or
MM 6 (remote communities) or
MM 7 (very remote communities)

under the Modified Monash Model classification system (MMM).

The MMM was introduced in 2015 to better target health workforce programs, in recognition of the challenges in attracting health professionals to regional, rural and remote parts of Australia. The MMM is a geographical classification system that was developed by rural academics at Monash University and modified following consultation with key Health stakeholders.

The MMM categorises metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness, as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and town size.

The ABS conducts the national Census every five years, after which the MMM is then reviewed and updated, where required.

The methodology supporting the MMM may be updated from time to time at the discretion of the Australian Government. If an eligible site becomes ineligible under the Initiative due to changes in MMM classification of the site, it will continue to be treated as an eligible site for the term of the MoU. This allows the site time to source alternative funding.

Transparency is an important objective under the Initiative and for this reason, states, the NT and sites must consult with and seek local support from primary health care providers and other relevant stakeholders.

Other requirements under the Initiative include submitting a site operational plan to the Australian Government, the state and NT committing to providing site annual reports, an annual review of site operational plans and providing financial year summary statistics.

Approved eligible sites

Directions are notifiable instruments made by the Minister for Health and Aged Care under subsection19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (the HI Act). These directions list the sites that have been approved as eligible to participate under the Initiative.

The following hospitals and health services in New South Wales, NT, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have been assessed and approved as eligible sites under the Initiative.

There is currently a total of 122 approved sites that participate under the Initiative. Note, Tasmania and Victoria do not have any active sites and the Australian Capital Territory is not eligible to participate under the eligibility criteria of the Initiative.

Some approved eligible sites have outreach services that operate out of the eligible site. These are listed under the approved eligible site that provides those services however are not included in the count of the eligible sites approved under the Initiative. This is the case for Queensland and Western Australia.

New South Wales
	Location	Practice Name	Street Address	Mailing Address
1	Balranald	Balranald Multi Purpose Service	41-43 Court Street Balranald NSW 2715	41-43 Court Street BALRANALD NSW 2715
2	Barham	Barham Multi-Purpose Service	80 Punt Road Barham NSW 2732	80 Punt Road BARHAM NSW 2732
3	Batlow	Batlow-Adelong Multi-Purpose Service	61-81 Pioneer Street Batlow NSW 2730	61-81 Pioneer Street BATLOW NSW 2730
4	Berrigan	Berrigan Health Service	47-49 Davis Street Berrigan NSW 2712	47-49 Davis Street BERRIGAN NSW 2712
5	Bingara	Bingara Multipurpose Service	Copeton Dam Road Bingara NSW 2404	Copeton Dam Road BINGARA NSW 2404
6	Blayney	Blayney Health Service	3 Osman Street Blayney NSW 2799	3 Osman Street BLAYNEY NSW 2799
7	Boorowa	Boorowa Multipurpose Service	62-80 Dry Street Boorowa NSW 2586	62-80 Dry Street BOOROWA NSW 2586
8	Coolamon	Coolamon-Ganmain Multipurpose Service	1 Doctor Buchanan Drive Coolamon NSW 2701	1 Doctor Buchanan Drive COOLAMON NSW 2701
9	Culcairn	Culcairn Multipurpose Service	51-55 Balfour Street Culcairn NSW 2660	51-55 Balfour Street CULCAIRN NSW 2660
10	Dareton	Dareton Primary and Community Health Centre	42-44 Tapio Avenue Dareton NSW 2717	42-44 Tapio Avenue DARETON NSW 2717
11	Dungog	Dungog Community Hospital	22 Hospital Road Dungog NSW 2420	22 Hospital Road DUNGOG NSW 2420
12	Finley	Finley Health Service	24 Dawe Avenue Finley NSW 2713	24 Dawe Avenue FINLEY NSW 2713
13	Gloucester	Gloucester Soldiers Memorial Hospital & Gloucester Community Health Centre	Church Street Gloucester NSW 2422	Church Street GLOUCESTER NSW 2422
14	Gundagai	Gundagai Health (Multipurpose) Service	50 Tor Street Gundagai NSW 2722	50 Tor Street GUNDAGAI NSW 2722
15	Guyra	Guyra Multipurpose Service	44-48 Sole Street Guyra NSW 2365	44-48 Sole Street GUYRA NSW 2365
16	Harden	Murrumburrah-Harden Hospital and Health Service	53 Scott Street Harden NSW 2587	53 Scott Street HARDEN NSW 2587
17	Hay	Hay District Hospital	351 Murray St Hay NSW 2711	351 Murray St HAY NSW 2711
18	Henty	Henty Multipurpose Service	7 Keighran Street Henty NSW 2658	7 Keighran Street HENTY NSW 2658
19	Hillston	Hillston Hospital and Health Service	48C Burns Street Hillston NSW 2675	48C Burns Street HILLSTON NSW 2675
20	Holbrook	Holbrook Hospital	30 Bowler Street Holbrook NSW 2644	30 Bowler Street HOLBROOK NSW 2644
21	Jerilderie	Jerilderie Hospital and Health Service	33-39 Southey Street Jerilderie NSW 2716	PO Box 116 JERILDERIE NSW 2716
22	Junee	Junee Multi-Purpose Service	67 Broadway Street Junee NSW 2663	67 Broadway Street JUNEE NSW 2663
23	Kyogle	Kyogle Multipurpose Service	Summerland Way Kyogle NSW 2474	Summerland Way KYOGLE NSW 2474
24	Lake Cargelligo	Lake Cargelligo Hospital and Health Service	34 Uabba Street Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672	34 Uabba Street LAKE CARGELLIGO NSW 2672
25	Lockhart	Lockhart Hospital and Health Service	53-55 Hebden Street Lockhart NSW 2656	53-55 Hebden Street LOCKHART NSW 2656
26	Manilla	Manilla Multipurpose Service	Court Street Manilla NSW 2346	Court Street MANILLA NSW 2346
27	Merriwa	Merriwa Multipurpose Service	Mackenzie Street Merriwa NSW 2329	Mackenzie Street MERRIWA NSW 2329
28	Murrurundi	Wilson Memorial Community Hospital Murrurundi & Murrurundi Community Health Centre	Corner Paradise and O'Connell Streets Murrurundi NSW 2338	PO Box 8 MURRURUNDI NSW 2338
29	Narrandera	Narrandera Health Service	54 Adams Street Narrandera NSW 2700	54 Adams Street NARRANDERA NSW 2700
30	Nimbin	Nimbin Multipurpose Service	35 Cullen Street Nimbin NSW 2480	35 Cullen Street NIMBIN NSW 2480
31	Nyngan	Nyngan Hospital and Community Health Service	Hoskins Street Nyngan NSW 2825	PO Box 96 NYNGAN NSW 2825
32	Oberon	Oberon Health Service	North St Oberon NSW 2787	North Street OBERON NSW 2787
33	Quirindi	Quirindi Health Service	50 Nowland Street Quirindi NSW 2343	50 Nowland Street QUIRINDI NSW 2343
34	Rylstone	Rylstone Multi-Purpose Service	Fitzgerald Street Rylstone NSW 2849	Fitzgerald Street RYLSTONE NSW 2849
35	Temora	Temora Health Service	169-189 Loftus Street Temora NSW 2666	169-189 Loftus Street TEMORA NSW 2666
36	Tocumwal	Tocumwal Health Service	6-12 Adams Street Tocumwal NSW 2714	6-12 Adams Street TOCUMWAL NSW 2714
37	Tottenham	Tottenham Multi-Purpose Service	10 Moondana Street Tottenham NSW 2873	10 Moondana Street TOTTENHAM NSW 2873
38	Trangie	Trangie Multi-Purpose Service	28 Harris Street Trangie NSW 2823	28 Harris Street TRANGIE NSW 2823
39	Trundle	Trundle Multi-Purpose Service	44 Brookview Street Trundle NSW 2875	44 Brookview Street TRUNDLE NSW 2875
40	Tullamore	Tullamore Multi-Purpose Service	Kitchener Street Tullamore NSW 2874	Kitchener Street TULLAMORE NSW 2874
41	Tumbarumba	Tumbarumba Multipurpose Service	4 Mitchell Street Tumbarumba NSW 2653	4 Mitchell Street TUMBARUMBA NSW 2653
42	Urana	Urana Health Multipurpose Service	127-129 Princess Street Urana NSW 2645	127-129 Princess Street URANA NSW 2645
43	Urbenville	Urbenville Multipurpose Service	45 Beaury Street Urbenville NSW 2475	45 Beaury Street URBENVILLE NSW 2475
44	Warialda	Warialda Multi-Purpose Service	Long Street Warialda NSW 2402	Long Street WARIALDA NSW 2402
45	Wee Waa	Wee Waa Community Hospital & Wee Waa Community Health Centre	60 Alma Street Wee Waa NSW 2388	PO Box 417 WEE WAA NSW 2388
46	Wentworth	Wentworth Health Services	Silver City Highway Wentworth NSW 2648	Silver City Highway WENTWORTH NSW 2648
47	West Wyalong	West Wyalong Hospital	70 Ungarie Road West Wyalong NSW 2671	70 Ungarie Road WEST WYALONG NSW 2671

	Northern Territory
	Location	Practice Name	Street Address	Mailing Address
1	Adelaide River	Adelaide River Health Centre	21 Becker Street Adelaide River NT 0846	C/- Adelaide River PO NT 0846
2	Batchelor	Batchelor Health Clinic	27 Pinaroo Crescent Batchelor NT 0845	C/- Batchelor Post Office NT 0845
3	Jabiru	Jabiru Community Health Centre	Lot 2021 Jabiru NT 0886	PO Box 221 JABIRU NT 0886
4	Katherine	Katherine Hospital	Gorge Road Katherine NT 0852	PMB 73 KATHERINE NT 0852
5	Nhulunbuy	Gove District Hospital	Matthew Flinders Way Nhulunbuy NT 0880	PO Box 421 NHULUNBUY NT 0881
6	Tennant Creek	Tennant Creek Hospital	45 Schmidt Street Tennant Creek NT 0860	PO Box 346 TENNANT CREEK NT 0861
7	Yulara	Yulara Community Health Centre	233 Yulara Drive Yulara NT 0872	233 Yulara Drive YULARA NT 0872

Queensland
	Location	Practice Name	Street Address	Mailing Address
1	Babinda	Babinda Hospital Multi-Purpose Health Service	128 Munro Street Babinda QLD 4861	PO Box 160 BABINDA �QLD �4861
*Barcaldine provides outreach services to Alpha, Aramac, Jericho and Muttaburra*
2	Barcaldine	Barcaldine Hospital Multi-Purpose Health Service	25 Oak Street Barcaldine QLD 4725	25 Oak Street BARCALDINE� QLD �4725
	Alpha	Alpha Hospital and Multipurpose Health Service	1 Burns Street Alpha QLD 4724	1 Burns Street ALPHA QLD 4724
	Aramac	Aramac Primary Health Clinic	2 Lodge Street Aramac QLD 4726	2 Lodge Street ARAMAC QLD 4726
	Jericho	Jericho Health Clinic	19 Pasteur Street Jericho QLD 4728	19 Pasteur Street JERICHO QLD 4728
	Muttaburra	Muttaburra Primary Health Care Centre	Edkins Street Muttaburra QLD 4732	Edkins Street MUTTABURRA QLD 4732
3	Biggenden	Biggenden MPHS	57 Alice Street Biggenden QLD 4621	57 Alice St BIGGENDEN �QLD �4621
4	Blackall	Blackall Hospital	Hospital Road Blackall QLD 4472	PO BOX 131 BLACKALL QLD 4472
5	Blackwater	Blackwater Hospital Multi-Purpose Health Service	41 McKenzie Street Blackwater QLD 4717	PO Box 47 BLACKWATER �QLD �4717
6	Boulia	Boulia Primary Health Centre	49 Wills Street Boulia QLD 4829	49 Wills Street BOULIA QLD 4829
7	Capella	Capella Outpatients Clinic	5 Slider Street Capella QLD 4723	5 Slider Street CAPELLA �QLD �4723
8	Cardwell	Cardwell Community Health Centre	Victoria Street Cardwell QLD 4819	PO Box 391 CARDWELL �QLD �4819
9	Childers	Childers Hospital Multi-Purpose Health Service	44 Broadhurst Street �Childers QLD 4660	PO Box 62 CHILDERS �QLD �4660
10	Chillagoe	Chillagoe Primary Health Centre	21 Hospital Avenue Chillagoe QLD 4871	PO Box 4 CHILLAGOE �QLD� 4871
11	Collinsville	Collinsville Hospital	81-91 Garrick Street Collinsville QLD 4804	PO Box 56 COLLINSVILLE �QLD �4808
12	Dimbulah	Dimbulah Primary Health Centre	1-5 Stephen Street Dimbulah QLD 4872	PO Box 148 DIMBULAH �QLD �4872
13	Dirranbandi	Dirranbandi Multipurpose Health Service	Corner of Jane and Crothers Streets Dirranbandi QLD 4486	PO Box 20 DIRRANBANDI� QLD �4486
14	Eidsvold	Eidsvold Multi-Purpose Health Service	Cracow Rd Eidsvold QLD 4627	PO Box 40 EIDSVOLD �QLD �4627
15	Gayndah	Gayndah Hospital	69 Warton Street Gayndah QLD 4625	PO Box 41 GAYNDAH �QLD �4625
16	Gin Gin	Gin Gin Hospital	5 King Street Gin Gin QLD 4671	PO Box 14 GIN GIN �QLD �4671
17	Hughenden	Hughenden Health Centre	Richmond Hill Drive Hughenden QLD 4821	PO Box 228 HUGHENDEN �QLD �4821
18	Inglewood	Inglewood Multi-Purpose Health Service	Cunningham Highway Inglewood QLD 4387	PO Box 42 INGLEWOOD QLD 4387
19	Injune	Injune Multi-Purpose Health Service	Fifth Avenue Injune QLD 4454	PO Box 35 INJUNE �QLD �4454
20	Isisford	Isisford Primary Health Centre	St Helena Street Isisford QLD 4731	St Helena Street ISISFORD �QLD �4731
21	Jandowae	Jandowae Health Services	Jandowae Hospital 13 Dalby Street Jandowae QLD 4410	PO Box 75 JANDOWAE �QLD �4410
22	Jundah	Jundah Primary Health Centre	1 Hospital Road Jundah QLD 4736	1 Hospital Road JUNDAH �QLD �4736
23	Longreach	Longreach Hospital	Corner Jabiru and Plover Streets Longreach QLD 4730	Corner Jabiru and Plover Streets LONGREACH �QLD �4730
24	Miles	Miles Hospital Health Service	5-11 Colamba Street Miles QLD 4415	PO Box 187 MILES �QLD �4415
*Millmerran provides outreach services to Cecil Plains*
25	Millmerran	Millmerran Multi-Purpose Health Service	50 Commens Street Millmerran QLD 4357	50 Commens Street MILLMERRAN �QLD �4357
25	Cecil Plains	Millmerran Multi-Purpose Health Service - Outreach Primary Clinic (Cecil Plains)	Co located at Anglicare 24 Geraghty Street Cecil Plains QLD 4407	Co located at Anglicare 24 Geraghty Street CECIL PLAINS �QLD �4407
26	Mitchell	Mitchell Hospital	95 Ann Street Mitchell QLD 4465	95 Ann Street MITCHELL �QLD �4465
27	Monto	Monto Health Service	Flinders Street Monto QLD 4630	PO Box 220 MONTO �QLD �4630
*Mossman provides outreach services to Cow Bay*
28	Mossman	Mossman Multi-Purpose Health Service	9 Hospital Street Mossman QLD 4873	9 Hospital Street MOSSMAN �QLD �4873
28	Cow Bay	Cow Bay Primary Health Centre	69 Tea Tree Road Diwan QLD 4873	PMB 3 CAPE TRIBULATION QLD 4873
29	Moura	Moura Multi-Purpose Health Service	14 Nott Street Moura QLD 4718	14 Nott Street MOURA �QLD �4718
30	Mundubbera	Mundubbera Health Service	96 Leichardt Street Mundubbera QLD 4626	PO Box 35 MUNDUBBERA �QLD �4626
31	Mungindi	Mungindi Multi-Purpose Health Service	90 Barwon St Mungindi QLD 2406	90 Barwon St MUNGINDI �QLD �2406
32	Murgon	Murgon Health Service	Coronation Drive Murgon QLD 4605	Coronation Drive MURGON �QLD �4605
33	Nanango	Nanango Health Service	135 Brisbane Street Nanango QLD 4615	PO Box 60 NANANGO �QLD �4615
34	Oakey	Oakey Health Services – Oakey Hospital	Cnr Beale and Fitzpatrick Streets Oakey QLD 4401	Cnr Beale and Fitzpatrick Streets OAKEY �QLD �4401
35	Proserpine	Proserpine Hospital and Community Health Centre	26-32 Taylor Street Proserpine QLD 4800	PO Box 229 PROSERPINE �QLD �4800
36	Quilpie	Quilpie Multi-Purpose Health Service	30 Gyrica Street Quilpie QLD 4480	PO Box 27 QUILPIE �QLD �4480
37	Richmond	Richmond Health Service	Gallagher Drive Richmond QLD 4822	PO Box 24 RICHMOND �QLD �4822
38	Sapphire	Gemfields Outpatient Clinic	984 Rubyvale Road Sapphire QLD 4702	PO Box 342 SAPPHIRE �QLD �4702
39	Springsure	Springsure Multi-Purpose Health Service	21 Woodbine Street Springsure QLD 4722	PO Box 14 SPRINGSURE �QLD �4722
40	Surat	Surat Hospital Multi-Purpose Health Service	2 Ivan St Surat QLD 4417	PO Box 2, SURAT �QLD �4417
41	Tambo	Tambo Primary Health Care Centre	Garden Street Tambo QLD 4478	Garden Street TAMBO �QLD �4478
42	Tara	Tara Hospital	15 Bilton Street Tara QLD 4421	15 Bilton Street TARA �QLD �4421
43	Taroom	Taroom Hospital	14 Miller Street Taroom QLD 4420	PO Box 358 TAROOM �QLD �4420
44	Texas	Texas Multi Purpose Health Service	Mingoola Road Texas QLD 4385	PO Box 91 TEXAS �QLD �4385
45	Tully	Tully Hospital	17 Bryant Street Tully QLD 4854	PO Box 489 TULLY �QLD �4854
46	Wallumbilla	Wallumbilla Community Health Care Clinic	Stakeyard Road Wallumbilla QLD 4428	PO Box 21 WALLUMBILLA �QLD �4428
47	Windorah	Windorah Primary Healthcare Centre	15 Victoria Street Windorah QLD 4481	15 Victoria Street WINDORAH �QLD �4481
48	Winton	Winton Hospital and Multi-Purpose Health Service	Oondooroo Street Winton QLD 4735	Oondooroo Street WINTON �QLD �4735

South Australia
	Location	Practice Name	Street Address	Mailing Address
1	Ceduna	Ceduna District Health Service	3 Eyre Highway Ceduna SA 5690	3 Eyre Highway CEDUNA �SA �5690
2	Lameroo	Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network – Mallee Medical Practice	1 Vardon Terrace Lameroo SA 5302	1 Vardon Terrace LAMEROO �SA �5302
3	Wallaroo	Northern Yorke Peninsula Health Service – Wallaroo	1 Ernest Terrace Wallaroo SA 5556	1 Ernest Terrace WALLAROO� SA �5556

Western Australia
	Location	Practice Name	Street Address	Mailing Address
1	Bridgetown	Bridgetown Hospital	28 Peninsula Road Bridgetown WA 6255	PO Box 136 BRIDGETOWN �WA �6255
*Carnarvon provides outreach services to Burringurrah, Coral Bay, Denham, Gascoyne Junction and Useless Loop*
2	Carnarvon	Carnarvon Hospital	Cleaver Street Carnarvon WA 6701	PO Box 417 CARNARVON WA 6701
	Burringurrah	Burringurrah Nursing Post	Sixth Street Burringurrah Community	C/- PO Box 417 CARNARVON WA 6701
	Coral Bay	Coral Bay Nursing Post	67 Robinson Street Coral Bay WA 6701	67 Robinson Street CORAL BAY WA 6701
	Denham	Shark Bay Silver Chain Health Centre	53 Hughes Street Denham WA 6537	53 Hughes Street DENHAM WA 6537
	Gascoyne Junction	Gascoyne Junction Outreach Clinic	C/- Community Resource Centre Lot 4 Scott Street Gascoyne Junction WA 6705	C/- PO Box 417 CARNARVON WA 6701
	Useless Loop	Useless Loop Medical Centre	1 Wilson Rise Useless Loop WA 6537	1 Wilson Rise USELESS LOOP WA 6537
*Derby provides outreach services to Lombadina, Looma and One Arm Point*
3	Derby	Derby Hospital	67-71 Clarendon Street Derby WA 6728	PMB 938 DERBY WA 6728
	Lombadina	Lombadina Health Centre	Lot 404 Lombadina Road Dampier Peninsula WA 6725	PMB 6 via BROOME WA 6725
	Looma	Looma Clinic	19H Ngaliwanya Street Camballin WA 6728	PMB 903 via DERBY WA 6728
	One Arm Point	One Arm Point Health Centre	One Arm Point Community 89 One Arm Point Rd Broome WA 6725	PMB 13 via BROOME WA 6725
4	Exmouth	Exmouth Health Service	Lot 1448 Lyon Street Exmouth WA 6707	Lot 1448 Lyon Street EXMOUTH WA 6707
*Fitzroy Crossing provides outreach services to Bayulu, Nookanbah and Wangkatjungka*
5	Fitzroy Crossing	Fitzroy Crossing Health Service	82 Fallon Road Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765	PO Box 5 FITZROY CROSSING WA 6765
	Bayulu	Bayulu Clinic	Lot 10 Lamey Ave St Georges Ranges Via Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765	PO Box 27 Bayulu Community Via FITZROY CROSSING WA 6765
	Nookanbah	Nookanbah Clinic	Nookanbah Community Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765	PO Box 14 FITZROY CROSSING WA 6765
	Wangkatjungka	Wangkatjungka Clinic	Wangkatjungka Clinic Christmas Creek Fitzroy Crossing WA 6765	PO Box 288 FITZROY CROSSING WA 6765
*Halls Creek provides outreach services to Yiyili*
6	Halls Creek	Halls Creek Hospital	70 Roberta Ave Halls Creek WA 6770	70 Roberta Ave HALLS CREEK WA 6770
6	Yiyili	Yiyili Clinic	Lot 1 Louisa Downs Rd Halls Creek WA 6770	PMB 12 HALLS CREEK �WA �6770
*Katanning provides outreach services to Gnowangerup, Kojonup and Tambellup*
7	Katanning	Katanning Health Service	11-31 Kobeelya Avenue Katanning WA 6317	Katanning Hospital Site Francis Street KATANNING WA 6317
	Gnowangerup	Gnowangerup Hospital	3493 Broomehill-Gnowangerup Road Gnowangerup WA 6335	3493 Broomehill-Gnowangerup Road GNOWANGERUP WA 6335
	Kojonup	Kojonup Hospital	36-50 Spring Street Kojonup WA 6395	36-50 Spring Street KOJONUP WA 6395
	Tambellup	Tambellup Health Centre	30 Norrish Street Tambellup WA 6320	30 Norrish Street TAMBELLUP WA 6320
*Kununurra provides outreach services to Kalumburu and Warmun*
8	Kununurra	Kununurra District Hospital	96 Coolibah Drive Kununurra WA 6743	PO Box 239 KUNUNURRA WA 6743
	Kalumburu	Kalumburu Health Clinic	138 Kalumburu Bvd Kalumburu WA 6740	PMB 12 via WYNDHAM WA 6740
	Warmun	Warmun Health Clinic	Ord Street Warmun WA 6749	Ord Street WARMUN WA 6749
9	Laverton	Laverton District Hospital	2 Beria Road Laverton WA 6440	2 Beria Road LAVERTON �WA �6440
10	Leonora	Leonora District Hospital	967 Sadie Canning Drive Leonora WA 6438	967 Sadie Canning Drive LEONORA �WA �6438
11	Manjimup	Warren (Manjimup) Health Service	16 Hospital Avenue Manjimup WA 6258	16 Hospital Avenue MANJIMUP �WA �6258
12	Meekatharra	Meekatharra Hospital	Savage Street Meekatharra WA 6642	Savage Street MEEKATHARRA �WA �6642
13	Mount Barker	Plantagenet – Cranbrook Health Service	59 Langton Road Mount Barker WA 6324	59 Langton Road MOUNT BARKER �WA �6324
14	Norseman	Norseman District Hospital	1 Talbot Street Norseman WA 6443	1 Talbot Street NORSEMAN �WA �6443
15	Onslow	Onslow Hospital	73 Second Avenue Onslow WA 6710	73 Second Avenue ONSLOW �WA �6710
*Ravensthorpe provides outreach services to Bremer Bay and Jerramungup*
16	Ravensthorpe	Ravensthorpe Health Centre	Martin Street Ravensthorpe WA 6346	PO Box 53 RAVENSTHORPE WA 6346
	Bremer Bay	Bremer Bay Health Centre	29 John Street Bremer Bay WA 6339	29 John Street BREMER BAY �WA �6339
	Jerramungup	Bremer Bay (Jerramungup) Health Centre	7 Kokoda Road Jerramungup WA 6337	7 Kokoda Road JERRAMUNGUP WA 6337
17	Wyndham	Wyndham District Hospital	43 Minderoo St Wyndham WA 6740	43 Minderoo St WYNDHAM �WA �6740

Legislation

Section 19 of the HI Act provides that Medicare benefits are not payable for certain professional services (provided in hospitals, multipurpose services and community clinics) where other government funding is already provided for that service, unless the Minister for Health and Aged Care makes directions under subsection 19(2) of the HI Act.

The Minister’s directions (notifiable instruments) enable approved eligible sites to bulk-bill against the MBS for non-admitted, non-referred professional services (including nursing, midwifery, allied and dental services) provided in emergency departments and outpatient clinic settings in eligible rural and remote locations in Australia.

The Minister’s directions list the sites that are eligible to participate under the Initiative. The following states and the NT have current directions in place as of 29 June 2022 that have been registered on the Federal Register of Legislation:

The Minister’s directions also set out the MBS groups, subgroups and items that are eligible to be bulk billed under the Initiative.

Evaluation

In 2021, an independent evaluation was conducted on the Initiative to assess the extent to which the Initiative has been appropriate, effective, efficient and of quality and value to the Australian Government and participating states and the NT.

Consultations were undertaken with a range of stakeholders. States and the Northern Territory were also invited to respond to the draft findings of the evaluation with responses considered in the final report. The evaluation findings provided valuable information on the operation and implementation of the Initiative, which were considered in the development of the MoU 2002–25.

The evaluation can be accessed at the Evaluation of the COAG Section 19(2) exemptions initiative – improving access to primary care in rural and remote areas final report.

Resources

The following guidance material has been developed to assist states, the NT and approved eligible sites in implementing the Initiative.

Enquiries by the general public or health facilities

For specific information about how the Initiative operates in your area, please contact your health department in your state or the NT.

If you are a health facility and would like to know more about the Initiative, please contact your health department in your state or the NT.

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Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Improving Access to Primary Care in Rural and Remote Areas – COAG Section 19(2) Exemptions Initiative

Eligibility Criteria

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