Labor’s controversial algorithm tool for aged care under investigation by ombudsman

The commonwealth ombudsman is investigating the government’s algorithm-based aged care assessment tool, which has been described by assessors as “cruel” and “inhumane” in its determination of home support funding for elderly Australians.

It follows hundreds of complaints made to Guardian Australia, politicians and advocacy organisations about the Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), made mandatory in November by the Albanese government as part of aged care reforms.

The IAT involves an assessor asking an older person questions about their physical, social and personal circumstances to determine how much government-funded home support they are eligible to receive.

Ahead of the IAT’s launch, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing quietly added an algorithm to classify IAT responses and determine a funding classification.

The department’s user manual states that assessors must accept the IAT’s classification outcome when assigning home support, with assessors telling Guardian Australia their role had effectively been reduced to data entry.

People previously receiving home support packages and who required reassessment because their health deteriorated have reported the IAT classified them at a lower level than before, leaving them with less funding and support despite greater needs.

Some people have said they are too scared to request a reassessment.

There have also been hundreds of requests for an internal review of IAT outcomes in the months since the tool was introduced, a process which can take up to 90 days.

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An ombudsman spokesperson confirmed: “The Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman has received complaints about and has commenced an investigation into the use of the Integrated Assessment Tool.

“However, we conduct our investigations in private and will only comment further when the investigation has been completed or substantially progressed.”

The ombudsman has the power to investigate complaints about government agencies, compel those agencies to provide evidence, and to make recommendations after an investigation. Those recommendations have the potential to lead to significant and systemic improvements in government administration.