Greens push for human override in aged care assessment after ombudsman’s scathing report into algorithm tool
Summary
Australia’s commonwealth ombudsman says the algorithm-based Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) has produced unfair aged care funding decisions and recommends allowing assessors to change outcomes. Greens leader David Shoebridge urged parliament to restore that power, while the government said it is reviewing the report and has introduced an escalation process for disputed decisions.Key Facts
- The ombudsman published a 104-page report on Monday and made 10 recommendations.
- The IAT uses an algorithm to decide whether older people receive home support funding and at what level.
- The report found that the tool has led to unfair outcomes and weakened public confidence in aged care.
- The government accepted six recommendations and noted two, including proposals for human overrides and legislative changes.
- The government commissioned an independent review of how the IAT assesses and prioritises people.
- A new escalation pathway allows a disputed assessment to go to a delegate for review.
- Ombudsman Iain Anderson said the escalation pathway may not let assessors correct decisions they consider clinically inappropriate.
- An experienced aged care assessor said delegate reviews add time and administrative work because the delegate has not met the older person being assessed.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
