Utah Approves Pilot Program for AI-Issued Prescriptions

A health care company has received authorization for a pilot program in Utah that allows artificial intelligence to issue initial prescriptions, including for acne treatment. Nolla Health, based in New York City, announced the program, which it calls 'AI-powered prescriptions,' in a blog post.

The company stated that this pilot is the first in the U.S. authorized by a state regulator to permit AI to issue initial prescriptions. The authorization was granted after collaboration with the Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy.

Nolla Health aims to address healthcare access gaps by reducing appointment wait times and costs associated with seeing a dermatologist. The Nolla Derm application will offer acne treatment prescriptions starting at $4.99 per month, without requiring an office visit.

Utah residents aged 18 and older can download the app. After verifying their identity, providing informed consent, and completing an intake questionnaire, users undergo a brief, five-angle face scan. According to Nolla Health, this process generates a personalized treatment plan and, if appropriate, an initial prescription within approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

The pilot program will proceed in three stages, with physician involvement throughout. In the first stage, involving the initial 100 patients, two licensed physicians will independently review and approve every AI-generated prescription before it is sent to the patient. This stage is expected to last at least four weeks.

During the second stage, which will accommodate up to 500 patients, Nolla Derm will issue prescriptions directly. A physician will then review every case retrospectively, at least weekly. This stage is planned to last a minimum of eight weeks.

In the third and final stage of the pilot, a physician will review a 10% sample of prescriptions each month. Additionally, a physician will review all cases that involve an escalation of symptoms or reported side effects.

Transitioning to subsequent stages is contingent upon meeting specific safety targets, including a 95% agreement rate with physician reviews and the absence of serious adverse events. Written approval from the state is also required.

The company noted that patients can message a licensed physician through the app at any time without incurring additional costs. Nolla Health selected acne treatment as the initial focus for its AI technology due to the condition being well-understood, low-risk, and supported by extensive clinical evidence.