Commonwealth Ombudsman slams aged care algorithm as unfair

The Commonwealth Ombudsman, Iain Anderson, has issued a report criticizing the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT) used to determine funding for the Support at Home program. The algorithm, implemented as part of federal aged care reforms, has been described as unfair, inconsistent, and lacking proper trials or risk assessments.

According to the report, the current system prevents human overrides of automated decisions, even when medical professionals recommend changes. This has led to complaints from vulnerable older people regarding inadequate funding for daily needs. Anderson noted that the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing provided incorrect information to citizens regarding their ability to contest decisions.

The tool affects approximately 365,000 individuals receiving at-home care. Among the Ombudsman's recommendations is a call for legislative changes to allow human assessors to veto algorithmic decisions. In response, government ministers have announced an independent review of the assessment process, with results expected in the first half of 2027.