Utah’s new health pilot puts AI in charge of some prescription refills

Photo: Photo by Olga DeLawrence

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Utah has launched a pilot program that allows an artificial intelligence system — not a doctor — to renew certain routine prescriptions for patients with chronic conditions, a first-of-its-kind approach in the U.S., Politico reported.

The state is working with health-tech startup Doctronic on a system that verifies a patient is physically in Utah, pulls prescription history, asks clinical screening questions, and — if cleared — sends the renewal directly to a pharmacy, according to Politico.

The pilot is limited to 190 commonly prescribed medications, while excluding categories such as pain management drugs, ADHD medications, and injectables for safety reasons, Politico reported.

State officials backing the effort say automation could lower costs, reduce medication lapses, and ease strain on providers, particularly in rural areas, Politico reported. Doctors’ groups and pharmacy regulators, however, warned the model could introduce new risks — including missed red flags or misuse — and raised questions about how such tools should be regulated, Politico reported.

Politico also reported that the Food and Drug Administration has not formally weighed in on the program, leaving unresolved whether the agency will treat the AI as a regulated medical device.