Australian health officials scrambled to fix aged care algorithm override powers days before rollout
Emails reveal senior department officials discovered the assessment tool could not legally be overridden by assessors, contradicting earlier assurances to staff.
Senior Australian health department officials were in turmoil before the rollout of an algorithm designed to determine funding packages for older Australians, after discovering that proposed legislation would prevent aged care assessors from overriding the tool's decisions, according to emails released under freedom of information requests.
The department had previously assured assessors they would retain the power to change incorrect algorithm decisions, but officials realised three days before the tool's rollout that such overrides would violate the proposed regulations, the documents show.
Sources
- Health officials in turmoil over 11th-hour backflip on aged care algorithm override powers, emails reveal — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
Related articles
Albanese launches Australia's bid for UN Security Council seat, names former Murdoch aide as New York consul general
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia's formal candidacy for a two-year term on the UN Security Council in 2029–2030, concurrent with appointing Siobhan McKenna, a former News Corp broadcasting executive, as consul general to New York.
Australian Opposition Defends Fuel Excise Cut Plan Amid Cost-of-Living Debate
Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan says the Coalition's proposed 50% fuel excise reduction when oil exceeds US$100 per barrel is a sensible measure to address cost pressures.
Victorian Labor Pledges New Offences to Close Domestic Violence 'Loopholes'
Premier Ben Carroll says a re-elected Labor government would create two Australian-first offences and raise the maximum penalty for rape to life imprisonment.
Australian PM Rejects EU Membership Speculation Amid Migration Policy Clash
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ruled out Australia joining the EU while defending his government's immigration stance against One Nation's proposals.
Albanese rules out EU membership push as Australia prioritizes Indo-Pacific ties
The Australian prime minister said the country's strategic focus remains in the Asia-Pacific region rather than European integration.
Opposition leader Taylor pledges major immigration cuts ahead of NSW election
Federal opposition leader Angus Taylor vows to deliver "one of the biggest immigration cuts in Australian history" as Coalition seeks to regain ground six months before NSW state poll.
Comments
Loading comments…