Artificial intelligence has made significant inroads into health care. Utah has launched a pioneering pilot program allowing an AI system to issue initial medication prescriptions without a doctor’s visit. This program, by Nolla Health, targets acne treatment.
Beginning October 5, Utah residents aged 18 and older can use the Nolla Derm app for acne treatment recommendations and, when appropriate, prescriptions. This initiative comes shortly after a different AI-prescribing pilot in Utah faced criticism from physicians. In April, the Utah Medical Licensing Board urged officials to suspend a program by Doctronic allowing AI to renew prescriptions, citing concerns about monitoring critical safety aspects.
What Is Nolla Health?
Nolla Health is a technology company leveraging AI to improve healthcare access. Co-founder and CEO Luis Wenus emphasizes the importance of providing high-quality care affordably. Their dermatology app has over 175,000 downloads across 44 states.
Automating acne medication prescriptions is strategic because acne is prevalent, low-risk, and treatment protocols are standardized. In Utah, over 100,000 people have acne, yet only about 10% consult a dermatologist, often experiencing wait times up to 61 days.
Controversy and Concerns
Not all agree with AI prescribing acne treatments. Medical regulators and doctor groups highlight that prescription decisions involve complexities not fully captured by automated systems. In the previous Doctronic pilot, the Utah Medical Licensing Board emphasized the need for clinical judgment and addressed concerns about reducing such decisions to automation.
How the AI Prescription System Works
Nolla Health specifies that the AI is not a standalone chatbot but works within doctor-approved parameters.
Patients download the Nolla Derm app, verify identity, provide consent, complete a questionnaire, and submit a facial scan. The AI then offers a treatment plan within 10 to 15 minutes. Eligible patients receive an initial prescription filled either through a pharmacy or home delivery.
Initially, every AI-generated prescription for the first 100 patients must gain independent approval from two licensed physicians. This oversight will be eased if safety metrics, such as a 95% agreement rate and zero adverse events, are met.
Future Implications of AI Prescriptions
The Nolla Health pilot is notable for issuing initial prescriptions rather than renewals. Utah was the first state to let AI renew certain prescriptions for chronic conditions. This initiative tests AI’s capability to assume roles typically needing doctor involvement. Success could pave the way for similar programs for other low-risk conditions governed by established protocols.
Currently, this initiative is specific to Utah, adults, and limited acne treatments. However, as stakeholders address doctor shortages and wait times, AI-assisted prescribing might become more integral to American healthcare.
Newsweek has sought comment from Dr. Zaid Fadul, Nolla Health’s chief medical adviser, and the Utah Medical Licensing Board. The responses are pending.