Who Should Provide AT-HM Prescription?

Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) can make a powerful difference to safety, independence, and quality of life at home. But one of the most common questions we hear is also one of the most confusing:

Who is actually allowed to prescribe AT-HM?

With changing aged care reforms and increasing focus on accountability, getting this right matters. An incorrect or incomplete prescription can delay support, create funding issues, or result in equipment that doesn’t truly meet a person’s needs. This guide explains who can prescribe AT-HM, why it matters, and what families should know when navigating this process.

What is an AT-HM Prescription?

An Assistive Technology and Home Modifications (AT-HM) prescription is a formal recommendation for equipment or changes to a home environment based on a person’s individual needs. Because AT-HM can range from simple equipment through to more complex home modifications, prescriptions must be completed by appropriately qualified professionals, depending on what is being recommended.

This may include:

• Allied health professionals, such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech pathologists and podiatrists

• Health professionals, including registered nurses, general practitioners (GPs) and rehabilitation specialists

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners

Importantly, all prescribers operate within their professional scope of practice, ensuring recommendations are safe, appropriate and aligned with the individual’s functional needs and home environment.

An AT-HM prescription is not simply a product list. It should clearly explain:

• The person’s functional needs

• The risks being addressed

• Why the recommended equipment or modification is suitable

Why the Right Prescriber Matters

AT-HM is not one-size-fits-all. Prescriptions must be clinically appropriate, compliant with funding requirements, and safe.

When prescriptions are completed by the right professional:

• Equipment is better matched to the person
• Safety risks are reduced
• Funding approvals are smoother
• Replacements and reassessments are easier in the future

When prescriptions are done incorrectly or without proper assessment, people can end up with equipment that is unsafe, unsuitable, or not approved for funding.

Who Can Prescribe AT-HM?

The appropriate prescriber depends on the complexity of the equipment or modification and the individual’s needs.

Allied Health Professionals

For most AT-HM items, prescriptions should be completed by a qualified allied health professional, such as:

• Occupational Therapists
• Physiotherapists (for mobility-related equipment)

These professionals assess:

• Functional ability
• Home environment
• Safety risks
• How equipment will be used day-to-day

They also consider future needs, not just current challenges.

Medical Practitioners

In some cases, a GP or medical specialist may be involved, particularly where:

• There are complex medical conditions
• Medical clearance is required
• Equipment relates directly to a medical diagnosis

However, medical practitioners typically do not assess the home environment or functional use in the same depth as allied health clinicians.

Why Not Self-Prescribing?

While it may be tempting to purchase equipment directly, especially for “simple” items, self-prescribing can lead to:

• Incorrect sizing or setup
• Increased falls risk
• Equipment that cannot be funded or reimbursed
• Short-term solutions that don’t support long-term independence

How AT-HM Fits Within Support at Home

Under Support at Home, AT-HM plays a key role in helping people:

• Stay independent for longer
• Reduce reliance on hands-on care
• Improve safety and confidence at home

Prescriptions are increasingly linked to:

• Clear assessment pathways
• Evidence-based recommendations
• Ongoing review and adjustment

This makes the role of qualified prescribers more important than ever.

What Families and Clients Should Ask

If you’re supporting a loved one, it’s okay to ask:

• Who is completing the AT-HM assessment?
• Are they qualified to prescribe this equipment or modification?
• Will this recommendation meet funding and compliance requirements?
• Will the equipment still be suitable if needs change?

These questions help ensure decisions are made with confidence, not urgency.

Getting the Right Support

AT-HM works best when it’s part of a coordinated care approach, involving assessment, prescription, installation, and follow-up.

Our teams work alongside qualified clinicians to ensure assistive technology and home modifications are:

• Appropriate
• Safe
• Compliant
• Aligned with each person’s goals

If you’re unsure whether an AT-HM prescription is required, or who should complete it, support is available.

Need guidance?

Contact your local office to discuss AT-HM assessments, prescriptions, and next steps for support at home.

Right at Home Australia is a leading provider of quality in-home care. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those we serve, ensuring the Right Care, Right at Home™.  We support people living with complex and post-operative care needs, dementia and cognitive decline, seniors, and adults living with a disability, including NDIS participants. Our tailored services help clients to remain safe and independent in their homes. We are an Approved Provider under the Aged Care Act, meaning we can provide quality support at home under a government-funded home care package. We also offer private pay arrangements for those who do not have government funding or who wish to pay privately for top-up care. Right at Home is all about you. We are available 24/7, so contact your local office today. You can also call our national number on 1300 363 802. 

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