Utah Now Allows AI to Scan Your Face and Prescribe Acne Medication
The program is limited in scope and can only prescribe medication for acne.
Utah has become the first state to permit artificial intelligence to scan patients' faces and prescribe acne medication. Healthcare startup Nolla Health, specializing in skincare and acne treatment, charges $5 per month for its subscription service. Users download an app to scan their faces, providing medical history through forms.
AI software then evaluates the face and generates an acne severity score. If deemed necessary, a prescription is issued from one of eight approved treatments. This pilot program, set to last a year, involves 100 prescriptions overseen by a board-certified physician before being sent to pharmacies. Nolla Health aims to treat 400 patients, with physician oversight of AI decisions weekly, and monthly audits of at least 10% of prescriptions.
The Utah Medical Association CEO, Michelle McOmber, stated that the association wasn't consulted for the pilot program. While AI is unlikely to replace physicians, many believe its use in healthcare is inevitable. McOmber emphasizes the importance of human physicians in patient care, with AI best suited for simple tasks such as gathering medical information.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
