Australia's aged care algorithm needs human override, watchdog says

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 05:31 · Archive

Australia's Commonwealth Ombudsman has called for laws allowing officials to override an algorithm that assigns levels of home care for older people.

An algorithm determining levels of aged care support for older Australians at home should be changed to allow human override of its decisions, according to a damning report by the Commonwealth Ombudsman. The federal health department's assessment system has led to unfair outcomes for residents and undermined public confidence, the report found.

The algorithm was launched in November as part of government reforms to the aged care sector. It decides what level of support a person needs for at-home care instead of nursing home placement. Complaints have risen about the system, particularly regarding the inability to change the algorithm's decision after assessments have been carried out.

Ombudsman Iain Anderson said serious questions had been raised about the outcomes generated by the algorithm, many of which were inappropriate. He stated that a reasonable person would lack confidence that the system is fair and consistent, and that the department did not understand key components of the legal framework it created.

Among the ombudsman's ten recommendations, laws should be changed to allow assessors to override the algorithm's decisions if it made a mistake. Around 85 per cent of older Australians, estimated at 1.1 million people, access aged care services through the home support system. Government ministers said an independent review would investigate how assessments were carried out, to be released in the first half of 2027.

How it is being reported

• Watchdog urges human touch to veto aged care decisionsA controversial algorithm assigning levels of care for older Australians at home should be able to be overridden by officials, an ombudsman is urging.Perth Now · 26 Oct, 05:04
• Watchdog urges human touch to veto aged care decisionsA controversial algorithm assigning levels of care for older Australians at home should be able to be overridden by officials, an ombudsman is urging.The West Australian · 26 Oct, 05:04

In this story: Commonwealth Ombudsman · Iain Anderson · Australia

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