Human Review Boosts Support for Nearly 20% of Seniors Challenging AI-Assessed Home Care Funding

Nearly one in five older Australians who appealed

Nearly one in five older Australians who appealed against home care funding decisions made by an automated system were granted increased support or a higher priority rating after a human reassessment, according to exclusive data obtained by the Greens.

The findings have prompted concerns that the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Integrated Assessment Tool (IAT)—which has been used since November to determine eligibility and service classifications across the aged care sector, including the Support at Home program—may be systematically undervaluing the needs of numerous older individuals.

Greens spokesperson for aged care, Senator Janet Rice, said the results indicate that the algorithm is “under-assessing” a significant number of people, many of whom may be unaware they can challenge the decision. “This is about fairness and ensuring that older Australians receive the care they are entitled to,” she said.

The department has declined to release the most

The department has declined to release the most recent figures on the total number of funding allocation disputes, despite repeated requests. It did, however, confirm that between January and March this year, 17.5% of appeals resulted in an upgraded outcome following manual review.

Advocates for older people have long warned about the risks of relying on algorithms for complex care decisions, arguing that automated tools often fail to capture individual circumstances. They are urging the government to make the appeal process more transparent and accessible, as many seniors may not have the digital literacy or support networks to contest decisions.

A departmental spokesperson said the IAT is designed to ensure consistency and fairness, and that every decision can be reviewed by a human assessor upon request. However, critics point out that the onus is on the individual to appeal, a step that can be daunting for vulnerable seniors.

As the federal government pushes ahead with its

As the federal government pushes ahead with its aged care reforms, the Greens are calling for an independent review of the IAT’s performance and for the publication of regular data on appeal outcomes to ensure no one is left behind by technology-driven assessments.