Utah is testing whether an AI system can safely write prescriptions. Here is what the first-of-its-kind pilot actually allows.

Nolla Health’s AI can issue first-time prescriptions, but only for topical acne treatments. It cannot prescribe pills, hormone therapies or strong drugs like isotretinoin.

The pilot runs under a 12-month state waiver. It is a regulatory sandbox, not a full approval. Utah’s AI policy office and licensing division co-signed the deal.

Doctors are not removed from the process. A physician must approve the AI’s first 100 prescriptions. After that, doctors review the AI’s work daily, and later weekly.

The AI works from a fixed list of doctor-approved treatments. It cannot invent new prescriptions. If it is unsure, the patient is sent to a human doctor.

Nolla says doctors agreed with the AI in over 96 percent of real cases. The service costs $4.99 a month and is open to Utah adults.

Critics point out that no autonomous prescribing AI has been cleared by the US drug regulator. Utah’s experiment will be closely watched.