Inside Doctronic’s AI prescription refill pilot program in Utah
The company was “very conservative” with the initial formulary, and there are plans to add new medications once it is proven safe to do so, Matt Pavelle, Doctronic co-founder and co-CEO, said.
Doctronic, an artificial intelligence company, has initiated a pilot program in Utah for automated prescription refills. The program allows for 30-, 60-, or 90-day renewals of medications already prescribed by licensed providers. The Utah Office of AI Policy collaborated with Doctronic to create a "temporary custom regulated environment" for one to three years under the state's regulatory relief program.
AI is initially responsible for recommending prescriptions for renewal in 72% of cases, with reviewing physicians agreeing with those recommendations 91% of the time. When renewal is not approved by the AI, 69% of physicians find the denial appropriate in clinical escalations. The program aims to address medication non-adherence, which causes 125,000 preventable deaths annually in the U.S. and costs the healthcare system $100 billion.
Currently in its first phase, the program has received criticism from local health officials, including a call for its immediate suspension from the Utah Medical Licensing Board. However, Utah officials have established a joint working group with the board to address concerns and ensure the program's success.
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