science
Aged care algorithm denies higher funding to Melbourne man with motor neurone disease
An 80-year-old Melbourne man with late-stage motor neurone disease was denied increased at-home support funding after an automated assessment. His wife appealed the decision, which the Department of Aged Care upheld last month.
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An 80-year-old Melbourne man with late-stage motor neurone disease was denied higher at-home support funding after an automated assessment replaced an earlier human review. The man relies on his 79-year-old wife for help eating, moving and using a ventilator up to 23 hours a day.
Because he is over 65, he receives support through the federal My Aged Care program rather than the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
New assessment tool Last November the federal government introduced the Integrated Assessment Tool, an algorithm used to determine eligibility for aged care services. The man was reassessed under the new system and told he did not qualify for increased funding.
The couple submitted a report from a senior occupational therapist specialising in progressive neurological diseases. The Department of Aged Care reviewed the appeal last month and upheld the original automated decision.
Review statistics and government response The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing received 1,117 requests for review between November 1 last year and March 31 this year. It finalised 606 cases, upholding 92 original decisions and amending 132.
The Minister for Health and Ageing announced a three-month rapid review of the Support at Home prioritisation mechanism and said a new fast-track process would be created for older Australians with motor neurone disease.
Opposition and advocacy response The Shadow Minister for Aged Care said the review amounts to an admission that the tool is failing and plans to introduce legislation next week allowing human override of automated decisions. The general manager at MND Victoria welcomed the fast-track pathway.
