Utah Launches First-of-its-Kind Program for Autonomous AI Prescriptions
- Jan 7
- 2 min read
In a landmark move for U.S. healthcare, the state of Utah has authorized a pilot program allowing artificial intelligence to autonomously refill medical prescriptions without direct human oversight. The initiative, launched through the Utah Department of Commerce’s “regulatory sandbox,” allows the health-tech startup Doctronic to bypass traditional regulations to trial its AI-driven service.
Under this program, patients with chronic conditions can interact with an AI chatbot that verifies their state residency and pulls their prescription history. The system is authorized to renew 190 common medications, though it strictly excludes high-risk substances such as injectable drugs and treatments for pain or ADHD.
The transition to full autonomy is gradual: human doctors review the first 250 renewals in each drug class. Once that threshold is met, the AI operates independently, charging a $4 service fee per refill. Doctronic co-founder Dr. Adam Oskowitz maintains the system is designed to "err on the side of safety," escalating any uncertain cases to a human clinician.
State officials argue the program is a vital tool to lower healthcare costs and improve access for patients in rural areas where medical staff are often stretched thin. Doctronic claims its AI matched human physician treatment plans in 99 percent of cases during internal trials. To further bolster trust, the company has secured a unique malpractice insurance policy specifically covering the AI system.
However, the program has drawn sharp criticism from medical watchdogs. The American Medical Association (AMA) warned that removing physician input poses serious risks, such as missing subtle clinical red flags or drug interactions. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, labeled the pilot a "dangerous first step" that undermines the essential role of human clinicians.
The program’s future may depend on federal intervention. While states typically govern the practice of medicine, the FDA has indicated it may have the authority to regulate AI as a "medical device" if it is used to treat or diagnose disease. Simultaneously, the "Healthy Technology Act of 2025" (H.R. 238) is currently being legislated in the U.S. House of Representatives; if passed, it would formally recognize AI as a "practitioner" eligible to prescribe drugs under federal law.
For now, Utah remains the testing ground for whether the efficiency of an algorithm can successfully replace the intuition of a doctor.
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Keywords: Autonomous AI Prescriptions
Autonomous AI Prescriptions
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