- Utah's Department of Commerce continues its AI prescription renewal pilot with Doctronic, despite a request to put it on hold.
- The Utah Medical Licensing Board asked for it to be suspended saying it should have been consulted first and expressing concern for patient safety.
- Under the pilot program, all renewals are reviewed by physicians and AI cannot address prescriptions for controlled substances or new prescriptions.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Commerce declined to end its pilot program with Doctronic for AI prescription renewals, despite concerns from the Utah Medical Licensing Board that said it should have been consulted.
Utah entered an agreement with Doctronic on Jan. 6, introducing a system that could allow 30-, 60- or 90-day renewals for routine medications that had been previously prescribed for chronic illnesses. The program is currently in its first phase, where a licensed physician is reviewing each decision to ensure the AI is operating safely.
The department's Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy was created in 2024 by the Utah Legislature, and allows Utah to waive some regulatory requirements to test AI technology. It said each company is required to submit a safety plan that is "thoroughly vetted," and is allowed to operate under "strict monitoring" for a limited pilot period while the office gathers data.
Patient safety concerns
The Utah Medical Licensing Board wrote a letter to the Utah Department of Commerce Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy on April 20 asking the state to suspend its agreement to allow AI to renew prescriptions while medical professionals review the proposal. It was signed by 11 of the 14 board members.
The board said it became aware of the agreement after it was already available for use in Utah, and expressed a responsibility it has to protect the public. According to the letter, the board supports the Utah Legislature's mandate to explore uses of AI, and looks forward to discussing how to do this safely with the decades of expertise its members have in various medical specialities.
"It is imperative that professionals with medical backgrounds review all proposals prior to implementation to ensure these programs do not compromise patient safety. We must not allow AI or other financial motivations to override this obligation, yet that is precisely what occurred here," the letter says.
Entering into the agreement without consulting the medical board is a risk for Utah, the board argues, and it "strongly" recommends suspension of the program "pending further discussion."
The letter claims overseeing prescription refills is reserved for medical practitioners due to "critical safety and clinical reasons." It said each refill requires reassessment, monitoring for side effects, checking for new drug interactions and efforts to ensure the medication is still effective.
"Patients who continue refilling medications without assessment may remain on outdated or suboptimal therapy for months or years. There is a reason prescription refills require physician authorization," it said.
Guardrails
Margaret Busse, director of the Division of Professional Licensing, and Zach Boyd, director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, responded to the letter on April 21 and explained the reasons it is continuing the agreement with Doctronic.
"Neither the state of Utah nor the Utah Department of Commerce has any motivation involved in the specific outcome of this policy project other than determining the best public policy for Utahns," the response said.
The directors thanked the medical board for its "continued dedication to protecting the health and safety of Utah citizens" and invited it to join in discussions about monthly reports from Doctronic. It said the pilot program could be modified or canceled based on the outcome of the reports.
Boyd told the board in a March meeting that the pilot for Doctronic was "rigorously reviewed" by medical professionals before it was launched, according to the letter, and multiple guardrails were integrated based on their feedback.
Each AI-generated prescription is reviewed by a human physician before being sent to a pharmacy during Phase 1. In Phase 2, prescriptions can be reviewed "soon after the prescription is issued," and in Phase 3, a physician will only review a random sample of renewals.
The letter explained the AI review takes into account a medical assessment and screens for new side effects, drug interactions and effectiveness.
Under the agreement, Doctronic is not allowed to provide renewals for controlled substances, modify treatment plans or give new prescriptions. When a case falls outside its guidelines, the prescription is escalated to a physician.
Patients also are still required to do regular evaluations with a physician, and can request a review of their prescription. According to the program's website, there are also verification protocols to protect patient privacy and prevent misuse.
"Prescription renewals make up a large portion of healthcare's daily administrative load. By automating these safe, routine requests, Doctronic hopes to help doctors focus more on patient care, reduce delays, and make it easier for patients to stay on track with their medications," the website said.
Steinagel and Boyd invited the medical board to give feedback on upcoming healthcare proposals Utah is currently vetting.
"We believe that by working together, we can lay a solid, evidence-based foundation for utilizing AI in healthcare in Utah without compromising patient protection," they said.
