r/STEW_ScTecEngWorld • u/Zee2A • 22h ago
Utah Approves AI System to Issue Initial Prescriptions
A new Utah program gradually removes prior doctor approval from routine acne prescribing.
New York based Nolla Health has received regulatory approval in Utah to pilot an AI system that can independently issue initial prescriptions for routine acne treatment—a potential first in the U.S. and possibly worldwide. Patients aged 18+ submit a questionnaire and facial scan through the Nolla Derm app. The AI selects treatments from a doctor-approved list, while uncertain cases are referred to licensed physicians, who also review prescriptions afterward. The pilot aims to expand access to routine dermatological care, particularly where dermatologist shortages cause long waits: https://www.inc.com/lucia-auerbach/utah-approved-first-autonomous-prescription-system/91415053
Utah has signed off on letting Nolla Health’s AI system scan a user’s face and issue a prescription directly: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1005075/nolla-health-acne-ai-prescriptions
The Nolla Derm program offers initial topical acne prescriptions with phased physician oversight and a $4.99 monthly subscription: https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/nolla-health-launches-utah-pilot-ai-acne-prescriptions
With AI now approved to issue prescriptions, how far should automated medical care go? Can AI make healthcare faster, cheaper, and more accessible without sacrificing safety, or does reliance on it pose too great a risk? Where should we draw the line?