Recently, Utah became the first state to allow patients to renew prescriptions through artificial intelligence (AI). The state has partnered with AI health company Doctronic to launch a new initiative, enabling patients to complete routine prescription refills through the service's "AI doctor." The Office of AI Policy at Utah's Department of Commerce stated that it will conduct a "rigorous evaluation" of the project's clinical safety protocols, patient experience, and actual effectiveness.

This collaboration aims to demonstrate how safe and regulated AI can improve medication adherence, prevent unnecessary hospital visits, and reduce healthcare costs, while ensuring that clinicians remain at the center of care. At a press conference, Adam Oskowitz, co-founder of Doctronic, called this partnership a "breakthrough event."

He pointed out that many patients often have to wait two weeks or even two months to see their primary care physician when they need a prescription refill, creating a real pain point. Therefore, using AI technology to address this issue makes sense.

However, some doctors have expressed concerns, believing that entrusting these decisions to AI could pose risks to patients. John Whyte, CEO of the American Medical Association, said in an interview with Politico: "While AI has limitless opportunities to improve healthcare, without the involvement of physicians, it could also pose serious risks to both patients and doctors themselves."

In response, Oskowitz said that multiple "safety measures" have been put in place to ensure that the AI model can effectively and accurately assign drug dosages to patients, including review by human physicians. Although Utah is the first state to implement this pilot project, Oskowitz revealed that they have already engaged in discussions with multiple states, including Texas, Arizona, and Missouri, and expect "a dozen states" to approve similar projects by 2026.

Key Points:

🩺 Utah has become the first state to allow AI to approve prescription refills, partnering with Doctronic to launch a new initiative.

🤖 The project will use an AI doctor to help patients with prescription refills, while ensuring physician involvement and review.

🌍 Other states, such as Texas and Arizona, are also considering similar AI prescription refill projects, which are expected to be expanded by 2026.