AI Prescriptions Are Here: Utah Launches First US Pilot
Utah has launched the first U.S. pilot allowing AI to issue initial acne prescriptions, under physician oversight.
Utah has launched the first U.S. pilot program allowing an AI system to issue initial medication prescriptions for acne treatment without a doctor visit. The Nolla Health app, which has over 175,000 downloads across 44 states, analyzes user information and generates a personalized treatment plan within 10-15 minutes. If approved, the AI issues a prescription fillable at a pharmacy or delivered home.
The pilot, launched on October 5, requires all prescriptive AI-generated recommendations for the first 100 patients to be independently approved by two licensed physicians, with the oversight gradually decreasing if safety benchmarks are met. Medical regulators and physician groups argue that prescribing decisions can involve factors not fully captured through questionnaires or automated assessments, and that the AI should not be used for more severe or complex cases.
If successful, this pilot could demonstrate the potential of AI-assisted prescribing in addressing physician shortages and long wait times in American healthcare.
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