SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Utah has become the first state to allow an artificial intelligence system to approve routine prescription refills, launching a pilot program officials say could significantly reduce patient wait times while keeping physicians in a supervisory role.
Under a new partnership with health technology company Doctronic, Utah residents can use an AI chatbot to renew prescriptions for roughly 190 common medications. State officials said the system is designed for low-risk refills and must escalate any uncertainty or red-flag conditions to a licensed physician, defaulting toward patient safety rather than automation.
The Utah Department of Commerce’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy will oversee the pilot, evaluating clinical safety, patient outcomes, and real-world effectiveness. State officials said the goal is to shorten average prescription renewal delays, which can stretch to nearly a month, while easing pressure on overburdened primary care providers.
Doctronic co-founder Dr. Adam Oskowitz described the program as a targeted solution to a narrow but persistent healthcare bottleneck, arguing that routine refills are a logical entry point for regulated AI use. He emphasized that physicians still review the system’s protocols and remain involved when cases fall outside defined parameters.
Critics, however, warn that allowing AI to autonomously approve prescriptions—even with guardrails—risks eroding clinical judgment and patient trust. A consumer watchdog group criticized the chatbot’s ability to identify itself as an “AI doctor,” arguing that the distinction between automated systems and human clinicians must remain clear.
Utah officials framed the program as an experiment rather than a model, noting that broader adoption will depend on independent safety data and regulatory review.
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