‘Letting the algorithm rip’: no legal basis for lack of human override of aged care funding tool, inquiry hears

Department says it’s received 834 requests for a review of tool’s assessments since it launched in November

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There appears to be no legal barrier for a human to override a controversial algorithm that determines financial support for elderly Australians, a Senate inquiry has heard, despite government assessors being banned from doing so.

The Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT), introduced in November as part of aged care Support at Home reforms, is used to assess eligibility and assign funding levels for aged care services.