Outrage over flaw that may encourage Australia’s aged care homes to select residents based on profit margin

Labor urged to address concerns as co-designer of funding model says exploiting system has been big business ‘for years’

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The federal government must urgently address an unintended consequence of its aged care funding model which could lead to providers avoiding residents most in need of care, an advocacy group warns.

The warning comes as the funding model’s lead designer accuses some aged care providers and consultancy firms of trying to exploit the system for financial gain, and amid concern from the Greens of residents being treated as “commodities”.

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