Utah Approves First AI Pilot to Issue New Prescriptions
Utah has authorized a pilot letting Nolla Health's AI tool issue initial prescriptions for acne treatment without a physician visit, which the company says is the first U.S. clearance for AI to write new (not just renewal) prescriptions. Developed with the Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy and the state's Medical Licensing Board, the program launched October 5 through the Nolla Derm app for Utah residents 18 and older at $4.99/month. Patients complete an intake questionnaire and face scan, and the AI selects from a limited list of physician-approved topical treatments, escalating uncertain cases to a licensed physician. Physician oversight of AI prescriptions decreases in stages, from reviewing every case for the first 100 patients to sampling weekly after 500 patients, building on Utah's earlier AI prescription-renewal pilots with Doctronic and Legion Health.