Strengthening Medicare - Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme for Participants with Diabetes
Healthcare and aged care sector
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Services Australia
Tier 3
Project status - Active
Duration - 3 years, 1 month
Investment - $16.7M | Digital ($10.4M)
Nearly half a million Australians live with a chronic wound. These wounds do not heal normally, often taking longer than a month. They can include skin tears, pressure injuries, autoimmune/dermatological conditions, diabetic foot ulceration, or compromised surgical wounds. Chronic wounds are debilitating, often affect quality of life and require long-term care and attention.
The costs of wound care consumables – such as bandages, dressings and adhesives – can be substantial, often reaching up to $4,000 annually per patient. For many patients, these out-of-pocket expenses create serious financial strain, sometimes forcing individuals to delay or forgo necessary treatment.
Patient-centred approach to chronic wound care
In response, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing worked collaboratively with Services Australia to establish the Chronic Wound Consumables Scheme (CWCS). The CWCS supports people with diabetes who have a chronic wound and who are aged 65 years or older, or First Nations participants who are aged 50 years or older with diabetes and a chronic wound. It allows authorised health professionals to enrol eligible patients into the scheme and order fully subsidised wound consumable products to be delivered directly to the patient.
The CWCS portal was launched in June 2025.
Health Professionals who work in a remote area and who do not have internet access will be able to access the scheme via a dedicated CWCS phone line.
The CWCS is estimated to help approximately 20,000 Australians per year to access free wound care products, irrespective of their location.
This project is delivering benefits including:
- lower overall costs to the healthcare system by preventing complications and costs associated with poorly managed chronic wounds
- significantly lower or no out-of-pocket expenses for wound consumables
- national sourcing of products delivered directly to patients, improving management of chronic wounds and reducing the likelihood of people resorting to unsuitable alternatives for cost reasons
- significantly reduced hospital stays resulting from the improved management of chronic wounds.
More information is available from Services Australia